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Item The Use of Podcasts to Develop Speaking Skills in A2 Level Students(Arandu UTIC, 2025-09-08) Pintado Gallegos, Sheyla Fernanda; López López, Jacqueline Elizabeth; Bonilla Tenesaca, Josue ReinaldoSpeaking skills are regarded as one of the most important aspects in an ESL (English as a Second Language) classroom, even though the learning process presents challenges that teachers face when aiming to improve students' speaking abilities, such as pronunciation, fluency, and lexical resources during communication. However, teachers are continually searching for new approaches or techniques to help develop students' speaking skills. Therefore, this article aims to assess the effectiveness of podcasts as a tool to improve speaking skills in A2-level students. To achieve this goal, the author used a mixed-methods research design, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative components that facilitate a better understanding of data collection, analysis, and discussion of results. This approach helps establish the relationship between the independent variable “Podcasts” and the dependent variable “speaking skills.” The study aimed to determine how effective podcast activities are, assess their impact on speaking skills, and explore learner attitudes to gain a deeper understanding of speaking skill development in A2-level students using podcasts. The population consisted of 25 students selected through the systematic sampling method; their ages ranged from 11 to 12 years old, and all were at the A2 level. Data were collected using instruments such as pre- and post-surveys and pre- and post-tests for quantitative data, while the surveys also provided qualitative insights. The data were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. The results showed that the podcast sessions had a significant and positive impact on participants' speaking skills.Item Task-Based Activities to Improve Speaking Skills in A2 EFL Learners(Arandu UTIC, 2025-09-17) Paredes Carrasco, Steven Paúl; Campoverde López, Johnny Segundo; Bonilla Tenesaca, Josue ReinaldoEcuador, a plurilingual and multilingual country highly influenced by globalization, seeks to strengthen English language skills. This study aims to explore the effectiveness of implementing task-based activities to develop oral skills in A2 learners of English as a foreign language. A total of 30 teenage students from Unidad Educativa Particular Raúl González Astudillo-La Providencia were administered a 4-week treatment, during which they developed specific tasks, such as role-plays, debates, discussions, and presentations that predominantly involved oral communication in an individual and collaborative manner. Moreover, the literature review of this article consisted of the most prominent authors whose results are aligned and contrasted with the current reality of the country, as well as their publication dates between 2010 and 2025. To achieve the objective, this study was quantitative in nature with a quasi-experimental and action research design to collect data from two groups, A and B. Group A was exposed to the treatment, and subsequently, conclusions were drawn that may suggest modifications to the teacher-researcher's teaching methodologies. To measure results and students' perceptions, instruments such as a pre-test and post-test with a rubric, as well as a survey with a Likert scale, were implemented successfully. Therefore, motivation, interaction, and fluency rates increased when students in the controlled sample were exposed to task-based activities, in contrast to those in group B, who did not receive the treatment.Item Backward Design Model and Performance Tasks for Developing Speaking Skills in A1 EFL Learners(Arandu UTIC, 2025-09-24) Morán Quiroga, Mónica Alejandra; Álvarez Llerena, Carlos Lenin; Bonilla Tenesaca, Josue Reinaldo; Egas Herrera, Diana CarolinaThis study examined the effect of the Backward Design Model (BDM) and performance-based tasks on improving speaking skills among A1-level English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students at a private school in Ambato, Ecuador. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was applied, combining pre- and post-test assessments, self-assessment surveys, and observation checklists to evaluate students’ progress in fluency, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, confidence, and creativity. Performance tasks were developed using the GRASPS framework and aligned with WHERETO principles, both core components of BDM. These tools helped create structured and purposeful learning experiences that increased students’ engagement and oral performance. The findings showed that applying the BDM and its main components improved students’ speaking skills, revealing greater participation, more frequent use of English, and increased confidence while performing communicative tasks. Furthermore, students perceived the video-recorded role-play activities, based on the GRASPS framework, as an enjoyable and motivating task that encouraged creativity, repeated practice, and reduced speaking anxiety. Most of the students reported improvements in their speaking abilities and expressed a stronger willingness to use English in class. This research supports the pedagogical value of the BDM as a student-centered approach that promotes both linguistic development and learner autonomy. It emphasizes the importance of designing instruction around clear objectives and integrating meaningful, emotionally supportive activities into speaking lessons. Future studies are encouraged to examine the long-term effects of BDM and its applicability to other language skills and educational contexts.Item The effect of storytelling on improving pronunciation standards in A1 level students(Arandu UTIC, 2025-07-15) González Gómez, Nube Beatriz; Campoverde López, Johnny Segundo; Bonilla Tenesaca, Josue ReinaldoClear communication in English depends on accurate standard pronunciation; incorrect articulation of sounds can lead to misinterpretation, especially in the case of grammatical morphemes such as the third-person singular verb endings -s and -es in the simple present tense. This study investigated the effectiveness of storytelling in teaching English as a foreign language (EFL) to learners at level A1 to determine whether improvements in the pronunciation of these morphemes occurred. The main objective is to examine how storytelling can be implemented to improve the pronunciation of A1 students. Twelve students from a public school in Azogues, Ecuador, aged twelve to fourteen, participated in this research. The investigation employed various tools, such as a pronunciation pretest and posttest, an observation checklist, and an online survey to gather both qualitative and quantitative data. Students engaged in storytelling activities, emphasizing verbs with the endings -s and -es incorporated into regular classes. Students who exhibited greater pronunciation accuracy and motivation contributed to revealing significant improvements in the precise production of target sounds. Future research should explore how storytelling influences pronunciation retention over extended periods and its relationship to other phonological elements.Item Gamification as a Tool to Enhance Speaking Confidence in Students(Arandu UTIC, 2025-12-26) Bonilla Tenesaca, Josue Reinaldo; Fuentes Cruz, José Alexis; Lopez Lopez, Jacqueline ElizabethThe aim of this particular research is to investigate the influence of gamification via a reward system on speaking confidence of the eighth-grade English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners at Unidad Educativa Selva Alegre. The study was based on a mixed-methods research design that integrated both quantitative and qualitative data collected by means of pre- and post-tests, Likert-scale surveys, and classroom observations during a four-week intervention. The gamified activities consisted of group challenges, quizzes, and interactive speaking tasks in which student got rewards based on their active participation. Descriptive statistics were utilized to reveal the numerical shifts in the performance of the students, whereas the thematic analysis was adopted to interpret the behaviors that were observable. It was found from the results that after the implementation, the students declared higher levels of motivation and confidence, lower nervousness, and larger readiness to take part in English-speaking tasks. The classroom observations agreed with the gradual improvements in fluency, body language, and engagement. The conclusions state that the adoption of gamified reward systems can contribute to the creation of a positive learning atmosphere which aids the students in getting rid of their anxiety and speaking more assertively in English.Item Using Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) to improve speaking skills in a1-level 8th graders(Arandu UTIC, 2025-09-24) Rivera Rivera, Adriana Salomé; Acosta Ortega, María José; Letamendi Lazo, Carmen Andrea; Bonilla Tenesaca, Josué ReinaldoThis study evaluated the impact of implementing Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) strategies on the development of English-speaking skills among eighth-grade students at the A1 level. A mixed-methods approach with an explanatory sequential design was used, combining quantitative oral assessments conducted before and after the CLT program implementation with qualitative data obtained through student surveys. Forty students from a public basic education school in the city of Guayaquil participated, engaging for five weeks in communicative activities such as role-plays, collaborative pair work, and listening comprehension exercises. Quantitative results showed significant improvements in students’ fluency, pronunciation, and coherence in conversations. Additionally, qualitative data demonstrated an increase in student motivation and participation. Despite some difficulties, the results show that this communicative methodology is effective and can be applied in similar environments.Item Uso de herramientas de gamificación para desarrollar habilidades de escritura en estudiantes de nivel a1(Ciencia Y Educación, 2025-10-06) Muñoz Casa, Ana Gabriela; Durán Muñoz, Gloria Susana de Lourdes; Egas Herrera, Diana Carolina; Bonilla Tenesaca, Josué ReinaldoThe purpose of this study was to determine how gamification tools can enhance writing skills in A1-level English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students. The research was conducted at Unidad Educativa Particular Cristiana New Life with a purposive sample of 40 seventh-grade students aged 11 to 12, who demonstrated basic digital literacy and were actively enrolled in EFL writing classes. The study employed a mixed-methods approach to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. A pretest-posttest methodology was used for the quantitative component, which was assessed using a rubric linked with the CEFR that prioritized vocabulary, sentence structure, grammar, coherence, and fluency. In order to investigate emotional and motivational reactions during gamified writing exercises using platforms like Wordwall and Quizizz, the qualitative component comprised a student perception questionnaire. The results revealed notable improvements in sentence construction, vocabulary usage, and overall writing fluency. Additionally, when taking part in gamified writing assignments, students demonstrated increased levels of creativity, confidence, and involvement. According to these results, including gamification techniques into writing teaching can create a more engaging and welcoming classroom. Based on the outcomes of this study, gamification can be considered an effective pedagogical strategy for developing foundational writing skills in young A1-level EFL learners.Item AI-powered podcast interventions for enhancing speaking skills in English Language Teaching (ELT) Adult A1 students(ARANDU-UTIC, 2025-09-25) Olohunse Aremu, Isiaka; Paredes Espinosa, Karen Estefanía; Intriago Cañizares, Fernando; Bonilla Tenesaca, Josué ReinaldoThe global increase in the use of the English language has created new demands for accessible tools to enhance speaking skills. These resources are largely unavailable in low-resource contexts in Ecuador. Improving speaking skills is essential, as the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) states that they are crucial components of communicative competence. Challenges include limited vocabulary, pronunciation difficulties, and anxiety, worsened by socio-economic and bilingual barriers (Spanish–Quechua). This work investigated the use of Google’s NotebookLM, a free podcast-based Artificial Intelligence (AI) intervention to improve speaking skills in English. The Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation (ADDIE) model guided the study, supported by Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development, Cognitive Load Theory, and Communicative Language Teaching. A mixed-methods design involved a general population of 305 adult learners, with a purposive sample of 20 students aged 18–30. Instruments included pre- and post-tests, the Field Observation and Conversation Analysis Protocol (FOCAP), a co-validated IELTS-based speaking analysis protocol. Results showed AI-driven real-time feedback and podcast activities improved fluency (84.8%) and reduced hesitation by Session 6. Interactional growth improved by 70%, turn management by 30%, and conversational logic by 40%. The majority of participating students who were initially at the CEFR Pre-A1 level reported having self-reported an improvement beyond that level. These outcomes suggest that free AI tools can support English proficiency in marginalized communities, providing a scalable model for English as a Foreign Language in Ecuador and similar contexts.Item Huertos escolares: estrategia interdisciplinaria para fomentar el trabajo en equipo y el cuidado ambiental en séptimo año de Educación Básica(MQRinvestigar, 2025-03-31) Cando Loor, Vicky Zelandia; Andy Rivadeneyra, Flor Maria; Vergel Parejo, Elizabeth Esther; Espín Landázuri, Marco AntonioLa combinación del trabajo colaborativo y el cuidado ambiental en proyectos escolares promueve una formación más integral y pertinente para los desafíos actuales. Iniciativas como los huertos escolares fortalecen el aprendizaje interdisciplinario y forman valores como la solidaridad, la empatía y la responsabilidad colectiva. La investigación utilizó un enfoque mixto, con un nivel explicativo, y diseño preexperimental con el objetivo de proponer una estrategia interdisciplinaria basada en huertos escolares que fomente el trabajo en equipo y el cuidado ambiental en estudiantes de séptimo año de Educación Básica, de la institución educativa EE, provincia EE, Ecuador, en el periodo lectivo 2024-2025. El diagnóstico causal evidenció carencias en las habilidades de trabajo en equipo y actitudes hacia el cuidado ambiental, atribuidas a recursos limitados, falta de experiencias significativas y enfoques educativos tradicionales. Estas debilidades resaltan la importancia de implementar cambios pedagógicos que promuevan una mayor reflexión crítica y propuestas prácticas ante los problemas ambientales. La implementación de la estrategia interdisciplinaria basada en huertos escolares mostró un impacto positivo en el trabajo en equipo y el cuidado ambiental. Los indicadores evaluados presentaron mejoras en la media, reducción en la dispersión de los datos y un aumento general en el desempeño. Estas transformaciones resaltan el potencial de las estrategias interdisciplinarias para fortalecer competencias socioambientales en contextos educativos.Item The influence of the CommonLit platform on the development of reading skills as an academic reinforcement for A2 students(Revista Arandu UTIC, 2024-09-13) Buñay Illapa, Elsy; Bajaña Rosales, Mónica Elizabeth; Campoverde López, Johnny Segundo; Bonilla Tenesaca, JosuéEcuador, a country of privileges due to its geographical location, has varied socio-ideological and cultural influences that significantly impact the learning and acquisition of a foreign language. Few students are aware of the importance of English. However, many do not feel a real interest in or the need to use the language in their daily activities in a society where they only try to cover a momentary requirement. The complexity of mastering a new language like English is even worse because learners have to face environmental, and emotional difficulties, as reflected in the quantitative study carried out, which suggests energizing their learning acquisition using the qualitative method that promotes their voluntary interest in reading comprehension, as stated by a survey and class observation carried out in the First “A” of Accountancy at the Isabel de Godin Educative Unit in Riobamba. Therefore, the implementation of the CommonLit platform will determine academic progress and reading proficiency as the main tool to improve their reading skills by addressing challenges according to different levels of English proficiency. In this sense, with the platform's interactive activities, adaptive learning tools, and variety of interesting information, participants' reading abilities significantly improve, according to the findings. Therefore, the CommonLit platform is a useful tool for students who intend to achieve A2 in their reading development since it enhances the academic level and cultivates an enduring enjoyment for reading.Item How cultural awareness influences senior year students to achieve curricular standards through Ecuadorian literature(Revista Latinoamericana de CIencias Sociales y Humanidades, 2023-10-10) Lara Ramirez, Andrea Aurora; López López, Jacqueline ElizabethEnglish proficiency is a global necessity, and Ecuador is no exception, where it has been integrated into the education curriculum to enhance language skills. However, student performance in English has remained below the desired level, falling short of the B1 proficiency standard set by the Ecuadorian Curriculum. This research focuses on assessing the influence of cultural awareness on EFL high school students through the integration of Ecuadorian literature, with the goal of aiding them in achieving the B1 proficiency level by the culmination of their senior year. For this end a survey was administered to thirty (30) high school senior students at an all-girls high school in the city of Cuenca to ascertain their stance on the incorporation of cultural material related to Ecuadorian literature in English classes following the implementation of a demonstration class. Employing a mixed-method approach, quantitative data were gathered through surveys, while qualitative insights were gleaned via open-ended questions. The findings convey a notable interest among students in embracing local literary works within their English classes, with a substantial proportion expressing a distinct preference for this pedagogical approach. These results underscore the potential of culturally relevant pedagogical strategies in language instruction.Item Análisis crítico de los recursos educativos digitales aplicados por profesores de inglés en instituciones públicas(Identidad Bolivariana, 2023-10-13) Berrones Astudillo, Estefani; Armijos Jumbo, Sonia; López López, JacquelineEl presente artículo presenta los resultados de un estudio de investigación que promueve la innovación y buenas prácticas en el uso de las tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones en la gestión y utilización de recursos educativos digitales por parte de docentes de inglés en instituciones públicas del Ecuador. Inicialmente se realizó un análisis técnico para evaluar los recursos educativos digitales -Módulos Pedagógicos en Inglés- mediante el instrumento LORI-AD, que evalúa las etapas de diseño, implementación y calidad de estos recursos educativos digitales disponibles en el repositorio institucional del Ministerio de Educación. Simultáneamente, a través de una encuesta voluntaria administrada a 102 profesores de inglés a nivel nacional, se recolectó información mediante una escala Likert, que permitió comprender las perspectivas subjetivas de los docentes sobre el uso de los módulos pedagógicos en inglés durante y después de la pandemia. Finalmente, los resultados cuantitativos y cualitativos obtenidos demuestran los escenarios en los que los recursos educativos han sido utilizados por los docentes y su calidad, integración con las TIC, usabilidad y relevancia para el aprendizaje.