Developing a Gamebased Instructional Package for Enhancing Interest in Malayalam of Secondary School Students

Education plays a vital role in shaping students’ linguistic abilities and cultural identity; however, the teaching of Malayalam at the secondary school level often relies on traditional methods that fail to sustain students’ interest. The present study focuses on developing a Game-Based Instructional Package to enhance interest in Malayalam among secondary school students. The study addresses the need for innovative pedagogical strategies that can make language learning more engaging, interactive, and learner-centered.An experimental method with a pre-test post-test single group design was adopted for the study. The sample consisted of 34 students of standard VIII from a secondary school in Kollam district, Kerala. The developed instructional package incorporated various game-based activities related to Malayalam grammar topics such as Sandhi and Samasam. Data were collected using a standardized Interest Inventory in Malayalam. The collected data were analyzed using statistical techniques such as mean, standard deviation, and paired sample t-test.The findings of the study revealed that the game-based instructional package was highly effective in enhancing students’ interest in Malayalam. A significant difference was observed between the pre-test and post-test scores, indicating a considerable improvement in students’ interest levels after the intervention. The results also showed that the instructional package was equally effective for both boys and girls, with no significant difference in post-test scores based on gender. The integration of game elements such as competition, collaboration, and immediate feedback contributed to increased student engagement and motivation. The study concludes that game-based instructional strategies can serve as an effective pedagogical tool for promoting sustained interest in Malayalam language learning. It emphasizes the importance of adopting innovative, activity-based approaches in language classrooms to foster active participation and meaningful learning experiences.