The use of visual literacy in digital escape rooms, as a game-based learning process, to enhance young EFL learners’ speaking

  1. PhD dissertations
  2. Karasa, Sofia
  3. Φεβρουάριος 2025
  4. 198
  5. Kofou, Ifigenia
  6. Kofou, Ifigenia, Seiradaki, Emmanouela
  7. visual literacy, digital escape rooms, speaking, young learners, 4 Cs, AIEd ChatGPT
  8. The Teaching of English as a Foreign/International Language (AGG)/AGG11
    • Visual literacy in the digital era manifests in diverse contexts while navigating the multiliteracies mirrored in 21st century multimodal texts, instigating thus a paradigm shift in learning and teaching practices. In the present research, visual literacy is utilized through Digital Escape Rooms (DERs), as a game-based learning process, with the aim of cultivating speaking for CEFR B1 level young learners of English as a Foreign Language. The purpose of this Action Research (AR) was to examine the relationship between visual literacy in DERs and speaking, with an emphasis on strategic competence and communication strategies, by exploring simultaneously the development of the 4 Cs, i.e. communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. To this end, a mixed method approach was applied in three AR cycles, combining quantitative and qualitative data retrieved from learners’ pre- and post-research questionnaires, group tasksheets, DERs, and teacher’s observation checklists. The research took place in a state junior high school in Athens, Greece and involved eighteen second graders. The participating learners reported that they enjoyed the speaking lessons and would like to use DERs again, an attitudinal change noted both in learners’ questionnaires and observed behaviours. Secondly, whilst the development of visual literacy strategies was increasing with the use of DERs and group tasksheets, the learners became more strategic users of English during speaking interactions. A third finding was that through group work in both DERs and tasksheets, the learners developed into better communicators and collaborators, practicing their critical thinking and creativity in multiple ways. Eventually, DERs were found to contribute to the enhancement of early teens’ speaking strategies. Nevertheless, a more extensive research would provide further insights into the integration of visual literacy with speaking. Given their popularity, DERs could be used for different language levels and ages, to practice intensive reading, creative writing and listening.
  10. Hellenic Open University
  11. Items in Apothesis are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.