Examining Test Anxiety and Its Alleviation: Assessing the Efficacy of Gamification in ESL Contexts
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Test Anxiety, Gamification, ESL Learners, Motivation, Engagement.Abstract
Students are under more pressure now than ever before, which has caused a variety of anxieties. This study focuses on test anxiety, which encompasses emotional factors that impact students before, during, and after exams. Factors contributing to test anxiety include inadequate test-taking skills, unfamiliarity with content and formats, time constraints, and strict evaluation. Gamification, the integration of game elements into non-gaming contexts, offers significant psychological benefits, especially for ESL students. This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of reducing test anxiety among ESL learners. To assess the impact of gamification, a survey comprising twelve statements related to test anxiety was administered to 30 first-year undergraduate ESL students It was followed by a focused group interview that delved into gamification’s effect on test anxiety. The study shows a reduction in anxiety levels of the students due to gamification. Ultimately, this study highlights the importance of innovative approaches, such as gamification, in addressing test anxiety within ESL education.
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