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The Effects of Wordwall Games on EFL Learners’ Vocabulary Acquisition at A High School in Vietnam

Le Anh Thu 1 * ,
Phan Thi Thanh Huyen 2
1 Pedagogical Practice School, An Giang University, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, VIETNAM2 Faculty of Foreign Languages, An Giang University, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, VIETNAM* Corresponding Author
Educational Point, 3(1), 2026, e158, https://doi.org/10.71176/edup/18768
Publication date: Jun 17, 2026
Research Article
Open Access Open Access
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ABSTRACT

In the context of globalization, English serves as a lingua franca, and vocabulary acquisition plays a crucial role in language learning and effective communication. In Vietnam, despite the advancement of educational technology, the application of digital tools in vocabulary teaching at the secondary school level still faces certain limitations. This action study was conducted on 40 11th-grade students at a public high school to assess the impact of digital game-based learning on vocabulary acquisition. Through data analysis from questionnaires, classroom observations, and teacher self-reflection journals, the findings indicated that integrating Wordwall games into English lessons positively influenced students’ motivation, engagement, and vocabulary acquisition. Classroom participation was consistently higher in Wordwall-based lessons than in comparable non-digital activities. Most students also demonstrated a clear preference for digital games. Insights from the researcher’s reflection journals, together with the findings from Wordwall-based activities and EVP analysis, suggested noticeable improvement in students’ vocabulary acquisition across the intervention cycles, particularly in vocabulary recall and their ability to use a wider range of lexical items. The study confirms the pedagogical potential of digital games in optimizing language development for EFL students in Vietnam.

KEYWORDS

digital game-based learning EFL learners high school students vocabulary acquisition Wordwall games

CITATION (APA)

Thu, L. A., & Huyen, P. T. T. (2026). The Effects of Wordwall Games on EFL Learners’ Vocabulary Acquisition at A High School in Vietnam. Educational Point, 3(1), e158. https://doi.org/10.71176/edup/18768
Harvard
Thu, L. A., and Huyen, P. T. T. (2026). The Effects of Wordwall Games on EFL Learners’ Vocabulary Acquisition at A High School in Vietnam. Educational Point, 3(1), e158. https://doi.org/10.71176/edup/18768
Vancouver
Thu LA, Huyen PTT. The Effects of Wordwall Games on EFL Learners’ Vocabulary Acquisition at A High School in Vietnam. Educational Point. 2026;3(1):e158. https://doi.org/10.71176/edup/18768
AMA
Thu LA, Huyen PTT. The Effects of Wordwall Games on EFL Learners’ Vocabulary Acquisition at A High School in Vietnam. Educational Point. 2026;3(1), e158. https://doi.org/10.71176/edup/18768
Chicago
Thu, Le Anh, and Phan Thi Thanh Huyen. "The Effects of Wordwall Games on EFL Learners’ Vocabulary Acquisition at A High School in Vietnam". Educational Point 2026 3 no. 1 (2026): e158. https://doi.org/10.71176/edup/18768
MLA
Thu, Le Anh et al. "The Effects of Wordwall Games on EFL Learners’ Vocabulary Acquisition at A High School in Vietnam". Educational Point, vol. 3, no. 1, 2026, e158. https://doi.org/10.71176/edup/18768

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