Video Games: Their Influence on English as a Foreign Language Vocabulary Acquisition

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26817/16925777.707

Keywords:

video games, game-based learning, vocabulary acquisition, EFL

Abstract

In this particular project, a four-week video game-based activity is proposed, using videogames as main sources to improve participants' vocabulary. Moreover, the data gathered in the project is triangulated by using tests, teacher's journal, and students' journal during the four weeks. The project aims to demonstrate the bond between videogames and vocabulary acquisition as well as breaking the superstition that videogames cannot be helpful in EFL contexts. Besides, during the activity, students are asked to play two games, Scribblenauts and Age of Empires II. Consequently, the research tries to understand and analyze the process and roles students and teachers develop through the usage of videogames in an EFL classroom; reflecting upon experiences from the games.

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Author Biographies

Gonzalo Camacho Vásquez, Universidad del Tolima, Colombia

is full-time teacher at Universidad del Tolima. He holds a BA in Language Teaching and a MA in Education. He has been as an English instructor and Teacher trainer for more than 12 years. He participated as an Exchange teacher in the United States with Visiting International Faculty Program (VIF PROGRAM). His areas of interest are Foreign Language Teaching Didactics, Critical Thinking and Philosophy of Education.

Joan Camilo Ovalle, Universidad del Tolima, Colombia

holds  a  BA  in  English from Universidad del Tolima. He has assisted and presented on different international congresses around Colombia. Currently, he is working as a teacher at Colegio San Bonifacio de las Lanzas, and part-time teacher at Universidad del Tolima at the language centre.

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Published

2019-12-12

How to Cite

Camacho Vásquez, G. ., & Ovalle, J. C. (2019). Video Games: Their Influence on English as a Foreign Language Vocabulary Acquisition. GIST – Education and Learning Research Journal, (19), 172–192. https://doi.org/10.26817/16925777.707

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