IMPROVING THE METHODOLOGY OF TEACHING ENGLISH THROUGH THE KAHOOT, WORDWALL, AND QUIZLET PLATFORMS (ON THE EXAMPLE OF GRADES 8-9)

Abstract

The rapid digitalization of secondary education requires the modernization of methods for teaching English as a foreign language (EFL). This article examines the improvement of pedagogical methodologies through the integration of game-based interactive platforms—Kahoot, Wordwall, and Quizlet—focusing on students in grades 8–9. These grades represent a critical transitional phase where cognitive development shifts toward abstract thinking, demanding advanced lexical and grammatical competence. The study utilizes a mixed-methods approach, combining a quasi-experimental design involving 164 students with classroom observations and structured surveys to evaluate the platforms' impact on vocabulary retention, grammatical structural mastery, and intrinsic learning motivation. The empirical results demonstrate a statistically significant increase in post-test scores among the experimental group compared to the control group. Kahoot was found to optimize real-time engagement and formative assessment accuracy; Wordwall effectively scaffolds complex grammatical structures through multi-template interactive exercises; and Quizlet enhances autonomous lexical acquisition and long-term memory retention. The study concludes with practical pedagogical recommendations for optimizing gamified language learning frameworks in secondary schools.