What does it take to turn a passive student into an engaged learner? In today’s distraction-filled world, capturing attention is more challenging—and more essential—than ever. This session draws on research into intrinsic motivation to present dynamic, student-centred strategies that foster deeper engagement. Framed around project-based learning, digital storytelling, and best practice with AI, we will investigate how collaborative tasks can not only boost language skills but also nurture critical thinking, empathy and learner agency.