Review Article

Overcoming Anxiety Through Gamification on Young Learners Learning Journey

Volume: 1 Number: 1 October 25, 2026
EN TR

Overcoming Anxiety Through Gamification on Young Learners Learning Journey

Abstract

Young learners may experience foreign language anxiety for a variety of reasons, including fear of making mistakes, limited confidence, and concerns about participating in classroom activities. As children between the ages of five and twelve have developmental and learning needs, creating age-appropriate, engaging, and supportive learning environments is especially important. In this context, gamification offers a potentially useful approach by incorporating elements such as points, rewards, challenges, storytelling, and collaborative activities into language learning. Beyond increasing motivation and engagement, carefully designed gamified activities may also create a less threatening environment in which young learners feel more comfortable participating and using the target language. However, the potential of gamification to address foreign language anxiety depends largely on how game elements are selected and implemented. Drawing on existing theoretical perspectives and previous research, this conceptual paper explores the relationship between gamification and foreign language anxiety among young EFL learners. It also considers how anxiety-sensitive gamification practices may support learners’ confidence, participation, and meaningful language use, while offering practical implications for teachers and directions for future research.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethical Statement

Ethics committee approval was not required for this study as it is a review article. The authors declare that research and publication ethics and citing principles have been considered at all stages of the study.

Thanks

We would like to thank our supervisor, Dr. Damla Şahin, for her guidance, support, and valuable feedback throughout this study.

References

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  7. Edwards, J. (2022). Gamification, anxiety, & motivation in second language learners: A qualitative systematic review. Language Education and Technology Journal, 2(2), 98–127. https://langedutech.com/letjournal/index.php/let/article/view/34
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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Child Language Acquisition

Journal Section

Review Article

Publication Date

October 25, 2026

Submission Date

September 12, 2026

Acceptance Date

October 24, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 1 Number: 1

APA
Çiçek, Ö., Acar, Ş., & Şahin, D. (2026). Overcoming Anxiety Through Gamification on Young Learners Learning Journey. Uluslararası Dil Ve Teknoloji Dergisi, 1(1). https://izlik.org/JA62PT34XN
AMA
1.Çiçek Ö, Acar Ş, Şahin D. Overcoming Anxiety Through Gamification on Young Learners Learning Journey. IJLT. 2026;1(1). https://izlik.org/JA62PT34XN
Chicago
Çiçek, Öznur, Şevval Acar, and Damla Şahin. 2026. “Overcoming Anxiety Through Gamification on Young Learners Learning Journey”. Uluslararası Dil Ve Teknoloji Dergisi 1 (1). https://izlik.org/JA62PT34XN.
EndNote
Çiçek Ö, Acar Ş, Şahin D (October 1, 2026) Overcoming Anxiety Through Gamification on Young Learners Learning Journey. Uluslararası Dil ve Teknoloji Dergisi 1 1
IEEE
[1]Ö. Çiçek, Ş. Acar, and D. Şahin, “Overcoming Anxiety Through Gamification on Young Learners Learning Journey”, IJLT, vol. 1, no. 1, Oct. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA62PT34XN
ISNAD
Çiçek, Öznur - Acar, Şevval - Şahin, Damla. “Overcoming Anxiety Through Gamification on Young Learners Learning Journey”. Uluslararası Dil ve Teknoloji Dergisi 1/1 (October 1, 2026). https://izlik.org/JA62PT34XN.
JAMA
1.Çiçek Ö, Acar Ş, Şahin D. Overcoming Anxiety Through Gamification on Young Learners Learning Journey. IJLT. 2026;1. Available at https://izlik.org/JA62PT34XN.
MLA
Çiçek, Öznur, et al. “Overcoming Anxiety Through Gamification on Young Learners Learning Journey”. Uluslararası Dil Ve Teknoloji Dergisi, vol. 1, no. 1, Oct. 2026, https://izlik.org/JA62PT34XN.
Vancouver
1.Öznur Çiçek, Şevval Acar, Damla Şahin. Overcoming Anxiety Through Gamification on Young Learners Learning Journey. IJLT [Internet]. 2026 Oct. 1;1(1). Available from: https://izlik.org/JA62PT34XN