درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

Speaking proficiency is a crucial skill for Iranian EFL learners, yet it remains one of the most challenging aspects of language acquisition due to traditional, teacher-centered instruction and a lack of communicative practice. This study examines the effects of Differentiated Instruction (DI) and Gamification (G) on the Complexity, Accuracy, and Fluency (CAF) of Iranian EFL learners’ speaking skills. A quasi-experimental design was employed, involving 108 B2-level learners from Safir Language Institute, Iran. Participants were divided into three groups: one receiving DI-based instruction, another engaging in Gamification-based tasks, and a control group following conventional teaching methods. The study utilized pre- and post-tests of speaking performance, evaluated through CAF metrics, alongside qualitative interviews to explore learners’ perceptions. Statistical analyses revealed significant improvements in all three dimensions of speaking in the experimental groups, with DI showing greater gains in accuracy and complexity, while G was more effective in enhancing fluency. Qualitative findings indicated that both approaches increased learner engagement, motivation, and confidence. These results suggest that DI and Gamification are effective pedagogical strategies for improving speaking proficiency and should be integrated into EFL curricula to optimize learning outcomes.

English serves as a global bridge language, prompting continuous reforms in programs aimed at achieving proficiency. Among the most sought-after skills are listening and speaking, as people spend significant time engaged in these activities. Despite the correlation between listening and speaking, these skills are taught through distinct courses at the university in Burundi. Moreover, integrating these important language skills through teaching novels is not done there; novels are mostly exploited for their thematic and literary messages. Consequently, students often struggle with listening and speaking. This study aimed at measuring the proficiency level in listening and speaking among university students in Burundi as a result of their past exposure to novels. Besides, it experimented with the Integrative Approach to check if using it in novel teaching can reverse the situation at IPA and ENS in Burundi. Fifty-two students from Burundi Higher Institute of Education and 108 from the Institute of Applied Pedagogy, second year (2022-2023), were used. The sample size was fixed using Krejcie and Morgan’s formula[1]. Selecting students was done randomly. Both the group passed a pretest, then a posttest after a lecture on the novel, Weep Not, Refugee (2014), which also used the Integrative Approach. After marking the tests' sheets, the researcher analysed and compared scores using the SPSS 21. The pretest revealed poor performance across both groups, highlighting the inefficacy of existing methods in enhancing listening and speaking skills through novel. However, posttest scores showed excellent improvement in the experimental group while the control group continued performing poorly which answers the research question, “To what extent does the Integrative Approach improve university EFL students' scores in listening and speaking if it is used in novel teaching?” Therefore, adopting this study’s findings will enhance teaching novels at university in Burundi and sustain proficiency in listening and speaking for a lifelong experience. Keywords: English proficiency, foreign language, integrative method, listening skills, speaking skills [1] n=χ2Np(1-p)e2 N-1+χ2p(1-p) (Singh and Masuku, 2014;Bukhari, 2021)