Speak & Spin with Captain Hafiz: My First Speaking Wheel

About the Project

Speak & Spin with Captain Hafiz: My First Speaking Wheel, was developed to address a common issue among Year 3 ESL learners: shyness and lack of confidence in speaking simple English sentences. Many pupils have limited vocabulary and are afraid of making mistakes in pronunciation. The objective of this innovation is to create a fun, low-cost, and interactive gamified tool that motivates young learners to speak English confidently. The project combines a physical spinning wheel with digital AI-assisted voice support. The wheel is divided into eight familiar themes based on the Year 3 CEFR syllabus: Food, Animals, Family, Colors, Numbers, Feelings, Action, and School. Pupils will spin the wheel, identify the category, pick a corresponding sentence card, and speak. Each card is equipped with a QR code that links to an AI-generated pronunciation model voiced by the character Captain Hafiz. This allows pupils to listen, imitate, and self-correct. A pilot study was conducted with Year 3 pupils. Observation showed increased participation, improved willingness to speak, and better vocabulary retention. The gamification element created a joyful learning environment, transforming a passive learning task into an active and exciting game. In conclusion, Speak & Spin with Captain Hafiz is an innovative, student-centered, and cost-effective solution that aligns with the 21st Century Learning (PAK21) and CEFR principles. It not only improves speaking skills but also builds confidence and love for the English language at an early age.