Keyword: digital game-based learning

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.