Poster Presentation Balancing Rigor and Enjoyment: Cooperative Video Games as Joyful Teaching in EFL more

This poster explores joyful teaching as a CALL-informed approach to EFL instruction, addressing declining learner motivation caused by grammar-heavy, teacher-centered, and exam-driven practices. While such methods improve short-term test scores, they often lead to fatigue, anxiety, and negative attitudes toward English. For example, a class spends an hour teaching only grammar, students get bored, and they also be forced to focus on grammar study for the Common Test for University Admissions.Drawing on experiences in English literacy courses, the poster presents joyful teaching practices, including video-based tasks, digital and analog games, skits, and role-playing. These activities foster natural grammar and vocabulary acquisition through interaction, collaboration, and emotional engagement, without lowering academic rigor. Observations show increased student participation, engagement, and confidence.The poster also discusses “not joyful” examples, like unclear digital game instructions causing confusion or role-plays that stress shy learners or overemphasize competition. They show even well-intentioned activities can fail if they do not match student readiness or classroom dynamics. Joyful teaching requires careful planning, attention to learner needs, varied materials, and emotional scaffolding, supported by institutional measures like reducing teacher workload. Attendees gain practical ideas for implementing engaging, CALL-informed activities that balance enjoyment with　meaningful learning in EFL classrooms.