The Study of Effectiveness on Gamified PF and App Applied in Korean EFL Classes

This study investigated participants’ vocabulary acquisition of gamified PF and apps in formal settings and how the gamified PF and Digital Flashcards of the app supported participants’ intrinsic motivation by drawing on the lens of intrinsic motivation theory. Eighty Korean EFL primary participants were introduced to gamified PF and Digital Flashcards on the app and their achievement in vocabulary acquisition and intrinsic motivation were assessed after the eight-week experiment. An analysis of the pre-test and post-test identified the degree of participants’ vocabulary acquisition, and a subsequent intrinsic motivation survey indicated that the gamified PF group and Quizlet group both reported enhanced intrinsic motivation. Additionally, findings from participants’ interviews provided further insight into how gamified PF and Digital Flashcards of the app supported or thwarted the effectiveness of vocabulary acquisition in terms of receptive and productive knowledge and their intrinsic motivation. This study sheds light on the potential of gamified PF and Digital Flashcards as integrated tools for L2 learning in formal settings.