EXPLORING EFL LEARNERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF KAHOOT! AS A GAMIFIED ASSESSMENT METHOD

• Jumadil Akbar

  Hamzanwadi University

  Author

• Muhammad Jihadul Khairi Rizki

  Hamzanwadi University

  Author

• Muh. Zidan Maulana

  Hamzanwadi University

  Author

• Roni Sofyan Hadi

  Hamzanwadi University

  Author

• Abdullah Wahyu Hidayat

  Hamzanwadi University

  Author

The integration of technology into the learning of EFL necessitates the transformation from the anxiety-causing traditional testing method into a much more engaging testing method. This research investigates the attitude of the seventh-grade students of SMP Unggulan Hamzanwadi regarding the gamification process of the Kahoot! tool as an assessment tool, filling the existing void for junior high school students specifically. This research, as an exploratory case study, employed the collection of data through total sampling for 15 participants, conducted in October 2025. For the validation and support for the research, the study employed three instruments for data collection, specifically questionnaires, observation, and interviews. This study determined that 94.7 percent of the students were entertained during the assessment, and 89.3 percent were motivated by the immediate feedback. In exploring the study, the participant students experienced the transformation from test anxiety to positive stress, which is referred to as “heart gymnastics.” Of course, there was an interesting finding regarding the pragmatics of the situation, which was that the participant students enjoyed the tool because it eliminated the physically draining aspect of the assessment. In spite of the major and significant challenges, such as the prevalence of technological problems (81.3 percent) and the lack of ease during the allotted timeframe (80 percent), the participants were motivated.

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