The Use of Baamboozle to Enhance Students’ Speaking Fluency and Confidence A Quasi-Experimental Research at SMPN 4 Woja

Abstract

The Use of Baamboozle to Enhance Students' Speaking Fluency and Confidence: A Quasi-Experimental Research at SMPN 4 Woja. Supervised by Saiful and St. Asriati. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of Baamboozle in improving students' speaking fluency and confidence amongst seventh-grade students at SMPN 4 Woja. This research employed a quasi-experimental design, specifically a non-equivalent control group design. Data were collected through pre-tests and post-tests for speaking performance, as well as a questionnaire to identify students' perceptions. The results of this study indicated that the use of Baamboozle led to significant improvements in students' oral competence. Statistical analysis using the Independent Samples t-test for speaking fluency revealed a significance value of 0.002 (p < 0.05) with a large effect size (d = 1.61). Similarly, the results for speaking confidence indicated a significance value of 0.000 (p < 0.05) with a very large effect size (d = 2.59). These results indicate that the experimental group achieved more substantial gains compared to the control group. Furthermore, the questionnaire results showed an overall mean score of 4.04 (high category). In conclusion, the findings imply that Baamboozle is an effective instructional tool to improve students' speaking fluency and confidence in an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) context. The students reported a positive perception towards the integration of Baamboozle, reporting that the platform rendered learning more engaging and helped reduce speaking anxiety. Based on these results, it is recommended that English teachers utilise digital game-based learning tools to create a more interactive learning environment.