Game-integrated communicative framework: transforming ESL speaking through mainstream digital gaming

This paper introduces the Game-Integrated Communicative Framework (GICF), an innovative solution to persistent challenges in Malaysian tertiary ESL education: low speaking confidence, lack of authentic practice, and difficulty with strategic communication tasks like giving instructions and leading discussions. Moving beyond traditional teacher-centered methods, GICF systematically integrates the popular cooperative game Overcooked (on the Nintendo Switch) into a structured Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) cycle. This creates a high-engagement, low-anxiety environment where learners practise imperative use, sequencing, and negotiation in time-sensitive collaborative scenarios. A mixed-methods pilot study with 40 A2-B1 CEFR learners at UiTM Sarawak demonstrated significant outcomes: increased classroom engagement, reduced speaking anxiety, and improved accuracy in functional language use. By merging theory-driven pedagogy with the motivational power of gaming, GICF addresses both linguistic and affective barriers to fluency. Furthermore, it presents substantial commercial potential for scalable educational products, aligning with national educational goals and advancing Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education.