SSV510: “THE ULTIMATE PIZZA ESCAPE!”: USING A PIZZA-THEMED ESCAPE ROOM TO ENHANCE LEARNERS' SPEAKING SKILLS

FIFI NORDILANI YAHYA Faculty Of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Speaking is a vital skill in English language learning, enabling students to express ideas, share information, and communicate effectively. Many learners, however, find speaking challenging due to issues such as low confidence, limited vocabulary, and grammatical inaccuracies, which can hinder communication. This study investigates the use of a Pizza-Themed Escape Room as a gamified tool to enhance speaking skills among English as a Second Language (ESL) learners. Designed for 30 Year 5 students with lower to intermediate proficiency, the activity incorporates problem-solving within a "Pizza Restaurant" escape room setting. Grounded in Experiential Learning Theory and Drive Reduction Theory, the escape room encourages active collaboration and verbal interaction, fostering improvement in spoken English. The study's objectives are to assess the effectiveness of Escape Room activities in improving speaking skills and to explore learners' perceptions of this gamified approach. Data were gathered through pre- and post-tests, and semi-structured interviews to evaluate the impact of the activity. Findings showed a significant improvement in vocabulary, group collaboration, and overall oral production, with pre-test scores averaging 2.17 and post-test scores rising to 2.47 (p < 0.001). Interviews revealed increased confidence and enhanced speaking and vocabulary skills, highlighting the potential of the Pizza-Themed Escape Room to positively influence ESL learners' speaking abilities.