Jiménez Álvarez, MariselaGonzález González, María Fernanda2026-06-232026-06-232025-06-19González González, M. F. (2025). Gamification tools to improve speaking skills in pre-A1 students. Universidad Bolivariana del Ecuador.MAESTRÍA EN PEDAGOGÍA DEL INGLÉS COMO LENGUA EXTRANJERAhttps://dspace.ube.edu.ec/handle/123456789/3795TESIS-MAESTRÍAThe research sought to optimize the English speaking skills of pre-A1 students through the implementation of gamification tools. A set of digital games structured in progressive phases was designed, aimed at strengthening fluency, coherence, pronunciation, and vocabulary use. The study adopted an experimental approach with two homogeneous groups: an experimental group that participated in gamified activities, and a control group that followed traditional teaching. The methodology was mixed, using pre- and post-intervention tests, questionnaires, and observation sheets to evaluate the pedagogical impact. The implemented activities included role-playing games, vocabulary tournaments, image debates, quick descriptions, and story linking, integrated with digital platforms such as Duolingo, Kahoot, and Wordwall. The results showed a significant improvement in participation, confidence, motivation, and oral performance of students in the experimental group, significantly outperforming the control group. Data triangulation confirmed notable improvements in the organization of ideas, pronunciation, and contextual use of vocabulary, as well as a greater willingness to participate in oral activities. In conclusion, gamification proved to be an effective and innovative strategy that, by incorporating playful and technological elements into the teaching process, led to improved students' oral skills in English. The study proposed a replicable model in similar educational contexts, contributing to the design of more inclusive, dynamic, and early-learning pedagogical practices.en-UShttp://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2Speaking Skillsgamified activitiesenglish teachingconfidencevocabulary improvementThesis