A Study on the Effects of EdTech-Integrated Elementary English Instruction on Students' Communicative Competence

This study investigates the impact of an EdTech-based content and language integrated learning (CLIL) program on the English communication skills of 28 fifth-and sixth-grade students in C County, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea.Over eight weeks, subjects such as mathematics, Korean, Social Studies, Science, Physical Education, and art were integrated into English instruction, using various EdTech tools, including AI PengTalk, Writon, Thingkerbell, Tooning, Miricanvas, Book Creator, and Classcard.A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining quantitative analysis through comparisons of pre-and post-test scores on the Cambridge YLE Speaking Test, and qualitative analysis through teachers' classroom observations and student interviews.The research findings are as follows.First, the analysis of improvements in English communicative competence showed a statistically significant increase in pre-and post-assessment scores, with particularly notable gains in speaking fluency, pronunciation accuracy, and expression diversity.Second, integrating AI-based feedback tools (e.g., AI PengTalk, Wrtn) with visual and creative tools (e.g., Miricanvas, Book Creator) significantly increased learners' engagement and motivation.Third, teachers' observational assessments indicated increases in students' utterance length and the complexity of content organization, as well as enhanced confidence in using English.In addition, students repeatedly experienced expressing learning content in English in authentic contexts through activities such as creating visual materials, storytelling, and data visualization during lessons.Through this process, vocabulary and expressive competence improved naturally.This study suggests that the integration of educational technology and CLIL in elementary English education is an effective teaching-learning model that expands learners' opportunities for language use while strengthening self-directed learning and collaboration.The study suggests that integrating EdTech tools into CLIL-based elementary English instruction effectively expands languageuse opportunities while fostering learner autonomy and collaboration.