Reimagining speaking skill development through digital edutainment: A mixed-method study

Résumé

The rapid expansion of digital technologies has significantly transformed language pedagogy, particularly in the development of speaking skills among learners at the tertiary level. Traditional teacher-centered methods often fail to address learners’ anxiety, lack of engagement, and limited real-life communicative exposure. In this context, edutainment, an integration of education and entertainment, emerges as a promising pedagogical approach that blends meaningful learning with interactive activities. This study reimagines speaking skill development through carefully designed edutainment activities supported by digital tools and AI-enabled applications. Drawing upon classroom-based practices and recent trends in technology-assisted language learning, the paper explores how gamified tasks, role-play simulations, storytelling applications, and AI-driven feedback systems can foster fluency, confidence, and communicative competence. The study argues that digital edutainment not only enhances motivation but also creates low-anxiety environments in which learners can experiment with language more freely. By situating speaking instruction within engaging and technology-rich contexts, educators can bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and authentic communication. The findings highlight the transformative potential of integrating digital edutainment into speaking pedagogy, particularly for contemporary learners navigating hybrid and online learning spaces.