“Phonetics to the Rescue” is a game-changer for mastering one of linguistics’ toughest subjects. Phonetics can

intimidate even the most motivated students as its intricate sound system, unfamiliar symbols, and scarce

quality resources often make it feel like a maze. Yet, mastering the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is

vital for accurate pronunciation and confident communication. This web-based educational game turns that

challenge into an adventure. Players step into the shoes of a daring protagonist on a mission to escape, but

students gain sharper listening skills, better pronunciation, and lasting phonetic confidence. Fun, focused, and

future-ready, this invention makes phonetics a subject students want to master.

Phonetics is a branch of linguistics that studies how speech sounds are produced, heard, and perceived. It plays

a vital role in understanding language pronunciation, in which in turn contributes to improving and enhancing

language proficiency. This is supported by Pasaribu and Al Khalili (2024) who stated that an understanding on

phonetics is crucial in enhancing language skills, whether in daily conversation or in academic field like

literature, linguistics, and communication. In this regard, the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) serves as a

standardised system for representing speech sounds.

The project titled “Phonetics to the Rescue” is a web-based game designed to focus on phonetics, particularly

the use of the International Phonetics Alphabet (IPA). Inspired by escape room games, it applies gamification

principles such as challenges and progression-based tasks, paired with an engaging storyline to immerse

players and sustain their interest. To advance through levels and successfully escape, players must solve

phonetics-related questions. By blending education and entertainment, the game creates an engaging and

effective learning experience.

Learning phonetics poses significant challenges for many students due to factors such as the complexity of the

phonetic system, the limited availability of high-quality and interactive learning resources, and the presence of

progress tracking, students can be encouraged to engage more actively with phonetic concepts and improve

their learning experience.

1. To create an engaging phonetics learning platform that integrates gamification elements.

2. To design the game’s features, interface, and content to support the learning of IPA symbols in an

interactive and user-friendly way.

The game presents an immersive experience for players as they assume the role of a linguist stranded on an

island, tasked with solving phonetic puzzles to secure escape. Each challenge is designed to reinforce

knowledge of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), including symbol recognition, sound-symbol

tasks, which are later used to unlock higher levels. This backpack mechanism provides and intrinsic reward

system that induces a sense of adventure while reinforcing correct learning outcomes. The final stage requires

students to decode a full phonetic transcription and convert it into standard English orthography, allowing them

to synthesise and apply all acquired knowledge.

Upon completion of the prototype, the game underwent a feedback and testing phase. Feedback was solicited

from a small group of intended users, including peers and students, to evaluate usability, clarity of instructions,

difficulty level, and overall engagement. Based on this feedback, several refinements were made, including the

simplification of instructions and the adjustment of challenge sequencing to balance difficulty across the game.

This iterative process ensured that the definitive version was both accessible and pedagogically sound. The

Designed for tertiary-level linguistics and language education contexts, “Phonetics to the Rescue!” serves both

instructional and research purposes. It can be integrated into classroom-based pronunciation modules, used as a

supplementary self-learning tool, or deployed in studies examining the effects of gamified learning on phonetic

competence and motivation. Through its combination of visual design, interactivity, and immediate feedback,

the game aligns with constructivist principles of learning, promoting active engagement, and meaningful

knowledge conservation. As such it offers a pedagogically grounded and innovative approach to teaching

phonetics that supports both formative assessments and learner autonomy.

This project is expected to demonstrate that gamification can serve as an effective pedagogical tool in the

From a commercialisation perspective, the product holds potential for broader application beyond its initial

research scope. Educational institutions may adopt the game as a supplementary tool in phonetics or linguistics

courses, while individual learners could utilise it as a self-directed study resource. The platform can also be

expanded into a series of gamified modules covering different areas of linguistics, thereby increasing its

marketability. With further refinement and validation, the product may be positioned as a digital learning

package for language centres, universities, and online learning platforms, creating opportunities for licensing,

collaboration, and scalability in the educational technology sector.

The novelty of this project lies in its application of a gamified escape room format to the teaching of phonetics,

a domain that is often perceived as abstract and challenging. By embedding phonetic concepts within a

storyline and interactive tasks, the game provides learners with an alternative learning pathway that combines

as a scoreboard and a “lives” system to increase competitiveness and replay value. However, these

enhancements were constrained by both the limitations of the Genially basic plan and the project’s time frame.

For future iterations, it is recommended that the game be upgraded to Genially’s advanced plan to unlock

additional features and improve interactivity. Incorporating an introductory module on phonetic concepts

would also broaden its accessibility to novice learners. Finally, expanding the game to include motivational

elements such as progress tracking, rewards, and adaptive difficulty could further enhance its pedagogical

effectiveness and overall user experience.