GAMIFICATION AND MOBILE APPLICATIONS IN TEACHING ENGLISH: INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNICATIVE SKILLS

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to investigate gamification and mobile applications as innovative tools for developing communicative skills in the process of teaching English. The study addresses the growing need for effective pedagogical approaches capable of enhancing learner motivation, engagement, and communicative competence within contemporary digital learning environments. The research methodology is based on the application of general scientific methods, including analysis, synthesis, generalization, and systematization of scholarly sources, as well as comparative and structural-logical analysis. The theoretical framework of the study draws on the principles of the communicative approach to foreign language teaching, theories of learning motivation, and the concept of mobile-assisted language learning. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the comprehensive generalization and systematization of modern scholarly approaches to the use of gamified mobile applications as a pedagogical means of developing learners’ communicative competence. Particular attention is paid to the educational potential of integrating game mechanics with mobile technologies in order to support learner autonomy, sustained engagement, and regular communicative practice in English. Conclusions. It has been established that the integration of gamification and mobile applications into the educational process contributes to increased learner motivation and engagement, reduces language anxiety, and enhances the effectiveness of communicative skill development in English language learning. The findings substantiate the expediency of incorporating gamified mobile tools into blended learning models as a complementary component of English language instruction rather than a replacement for traditional teaching methods.