Shouting in the Kenyan Space - Can Spaceteam ESL Improve L2 Learners’ Oral Reading Fluency in English

Oct 15, 2026

Study evaluates Spaceteam ESL, a digital shouting game, on oral reading fluency development among 71 ESL learners in three primary and secondary schools in Mombasa, Kenya. Using a mixed-methods pre-test/post-test design, participants read aloud in three tasks: game-related phrases, non-game phrases, and a short anecdote. Paired-samples t-tests show significant speed improvements across all tasks, aligning with the fast-paced gameplay. No significant accuracy gains emerge due to a ceiling effect from already mastered English orthography letter-to-sound rules.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages21

Reading Time53 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Digital games and language education benefits

Fluency development and classroom constraints

Reading fluency recommendations

Spaceteam ESL as out-of-class support

| Volume 47 (3) | Fall / Automne 2021 | | --- | --- | Shouting in the Kenyan Space: Can Spaceteam ESL Improve L2 Learners’ Oral Reading Fluency in English? Crier dans l'espace kenyan : Le jeu Spaceteam ESL peut-il améliorer la fluidité de la lecture orale en anglais des apprenants d'une L2 ? Walcir Cardoso, Centre for the Study of Learning and Performance, Concordia University David Waddington, Centre for the Study of Learning and Performance, Concordia University Anne-Marie Sénécal, Centre for the Study of Learning and Performance, Concordia University EnosKiforo, Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa, Kenya LinahAnyango, Merishaw School, Nairobi, Kenya Dickson K. Karanja, Sacred Heart High School, Mombasa, Kenya Abstract This study examined the effects of Spaceteam ESL, a digital shouting game, on the development of oral reading fluency (ORF) among 71 English as a second language (ESL) students in three primary and secondary schools in Mombasa, Kenya. Following a mixed-methods approach for data collection and analysis, we pre-tested and post-tested the participants on their ability to read aloud efficiently (speed) and accurately (accuracy) in three tasks: (1) phrases extracted from the game; (2) phrases not related to the game; and (3) a short anecdote. Paired-samples t-tests results revealed that, as hypothesized, participants who played Spaceteam ESL improved their ORF on measures of speed on all tasks, possibly because of the fast-paced nature of the game. However, no significant differences were observed in terms of accuracy due to a ceiling effect: the participants had already mastered the intricacies of the letter-to-sound rules of English orthography. Overall, these findings corroborate our hypothesis that some of the affordances of Spaceteam ESL (e.g., focus on speed reading, multiple and varied opportunities for practice) could contribute to the development of some aspects of oral reading fluency. Keywords: Spaceteam ESL; digital game; oral reading fluency; speed reading CJLT/RCAT Vol. 47 (3) Résumé Cette étude a examiné les effets de Spaceteam ESL, un jeu numérique de cris, sur ledéveloppement de la fluidité de la lecture orale (FLO) chez 71 étudiants d'anglais langue seconde (ALS) dans trois écoles primaires et secondaires à Mombasa, au Kenya. Suivant une approche mixte pour la collecte et l'analyse des données, nous avons pré-testé et post-testé les participants sur leur capacité à lire à haute voix de manière efficace (vitesse) et précise (exactitude) dans trois tâches : (1) des phrases extraites du jeu ; (2) des phrases sans rapport au jeu ; et (3) une courte anecdote. Les résultats des tests td'échantillons appariés ont révélé que, comme prévu, les participants qui ont joué à Spaceteam ESL ontamélioré leur FLO sur des mesures de la vitesse dans toutes les tâches, possiblement en raison de la nature rapide du jeu. Cependant, aucune différence significative n'a été observée en termes de précision en raison d'un effet plafond. Les participants avaient déjà maîtrisé les subtilités des règles de concordance entre les lettres et les sons de l'orthographe anglaise. Dans l'ensemble, ces résultats corroborent notre hypothèse selon laquelle certaines des possibilités offertes par Spaceteam ESL (par exemple, la priorité accordée à la lecture rapide, les opportunités multiples et variées pour la pratique) pourraient contribuer au développement de certains aspects de la fluidité de la lecture orale. Mots-clés : Spaceteam ESL ; jeu numérique ; fluidité de la lecture orale ; lecture rapide Introduction Students benefit from using digital games in language education in several ways. Some of these benefits include students’ increased motivation to learn (Ducate & Lomicka, 2009), enjoyment (Allen et al., 2014), and comfort (Liakin et al., 2017), which can all contribute to learning (Krashen, 1986; Kukulska-Hulme, 2016) . In the context of second or foreign language (L2) education, the development of fluency is r

FAQs

What is Spaceteam ESL, and how is it used in the study?

Spaceteam ESL is a digital shouting game for mobile devices where players work in multiplayer teams. The study tests its impact on learners’ oral reading fluency through pre- and post-assessments.

How did the researchers measure oral reading fluency?

They used three read-aloud tasks: phrases extracted from the game, phrases not related to the game, and a short anecdote. Performance was assessed for speed and accuracy.

What were the main results regarding speed and accuracy?

Participants improved oral reading fluency speed on all tasks. Accuracy did not show significant differences because learners likely hit a ceiling after already mastering English letter-to-sound rules.

Oct 15, 2026

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