Enhancing English oral communication skills and motivation: the impact of AR hotel situated-learning board game in Thai EFL contexts

This study aims to develop an AR hotel situated-learning board game to enhance Thai EFL learners' oral communication skills and motivation. Grounded in the literature and needs analysis, this research is based on the idea that authentic experiences are crucial for English language practice through situated learning. The board game, set in a hotel context, allowed learners to engage with diverse scenarios through AR markers on game cards. A mixed-methods approach was used to assess the game's impact on the participants' oral communication skills and motivation. Post-test results showed an improvement in all categories, particularly in intelligibility, compared to pre-test scores. This indicates enhanced English oral communication skills across various aspects. The significance of the research lies in its implications for developing effective language learning strategies that boost oral communication and motivation, and it encourages further exploration of AR technology in language education.