A New Serious Game (<i>e-SoundWay</i>) for Learning English Phonetics
This paper presents the design and evaluation of <i>e-SoundWay</i>, a cross-platform serious game developed to improve English phonetic competence through a multimodal and narrative-driven approach. While the platform is specifically tailored to meet the needs of Spanish-speaking learner...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Multimodal Technologies and Interaction |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-4088/9/6/54 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | This paper presents the design and evaluation of <i>e-SoundWay</i>, a cross-platform serious game developed to improve English phonetic competence through a multimodal and narrative-driven approach. While the platform is specifically tailored to meet the needs of Spanish-speaking learners, it is adaptable for a wider range of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) users. <i>e-SoundWay</i> offers over 600 interactive multimedia minigames that target three core competencies: perception, production, and transcription. Learners progress along a gamified version of the <i>Camino de Santiago</i>, interacting with characters representing diverse English accents. A mixed-methods evaluation combining pre- and post-tests with a user experience questionnaire revealed statistically significant improvements across all domains, particularly in perception. Reduced post-test variability indicated more equitable learning outcomes. User satisfaction was high, with 64% of participants reporting satisfaction with their phonetic progress and 91% stating they would recommend the platform. These findings highlight the educational effectiveness, accessibility, and motivational value of <i>e-SoundWay</i>, reinforcing the role of serious games and multimodal technologies in delivering inclusive and engaging pronunciation instruction. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2414-4088 |