Learning English through gaming

master's thesis

• Author: Petar Krešimir Jurenec
• Mentor: Ivana Cindrić (mentor)
• Committee member: Marija Andraka (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Alenka Mikulec (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Teacher Education; (Chair of English Language Teacher Education); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2018-07-10, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Interdisciplinary Humanistic Studies; Teaching Methods in the Humanistic Sciences

Abstract

In this thesis, the connection between technology and digital games, and foreign language learning will be explored. The thesis is divided into two parts: the theoretical part and research. The first part of the thesis describes the use of technology as a tool for language learning from the mid-twentieth century until today. Language learning with technology has its advantages, but also limitations and boundaries which are not necessarily a negative factor because they make teachers be more creative and critical towards the use of technology in classroom. Still, teachers should be up to date with modern technology, which can be achieved through proper teacher education. The most important characteristics that a game has to have in order for its implementation into foreign language teaching to make sense are that it is truly a game, and it is linguistically rich so that the desirable outcomes can be met. Different genres of games differ in the ways in which they can facilitate language acquisition. There are games that were made specifically to teach the player a certain knowledge or skill, and there are games that were made to entertain. Both types of digital games achieve and preserve motivation by balancing challenges and rewards. However, there are some differences between genders in terms of digital game preference. The second part of the thesis presents the results of the research. The participants were fifty-five 7th grade students, and two of their English teachers. The aim of the research establish correlation between playing digital games and knowledge of English, and the hypothesis was that there is a positive correlation between playing digital games and students’ knowledge of vocabulary, particularly terminology and acronyms.

Abstract (croatian)

U ovom diplomskom radu prikazana je povezanost tehnologije i digitalnih igara s učenjem stranoga jezika. Diplomski je rad podijeljen u dva dijela: teorijski dio i istraživanje. Prvi dio diplomskog rada opisuje uporabu tehnologije kao alata za učenje stranoga jezika od sredine dvadesetog stoljeća do danas. Učenje jezika uz pomoć tehnologije ima svoje prednosti, ali i svoja ograničenja koja nisu nužno negativan čimbenik jer ona potiču učitelje da budu kreativniji i kritičniji prema uporabi tehnologije u učionici. Ipak, učitelji bi trebali biti u korak s modernom tehnologijom, što mogu ostvariti putem pravilne edukacije. Najvažnije karakteristike koje igra mora imati kako bi njena primjena u podučavanju stranog jezika imala smisla su da je ona zaista igra i da je jezično bogata kako bi se željeni ishodi mogli postići. Različiti žanrovi igara razlikuju se po načinima na koje one mogu pomoći u usvajanju jezika. Postoje igre koje su napravljene isključivo za podučavanje igrača određenim znanjima i vještinama, i postoje igre koje su napravljene u svrhu zabave. Obje vrste digitalnih igara postižu i održavaju motivaciju balansirajući izazove i nagrade. Međutim, postoje razlike između spolova u preferencijama digitalnih igara. Drugi dio diplomskog rada prikazuje rezultate istraživanja. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo pedeset pet učenika sedmih razreda i njihove dvije učiteljice engleskoga jezika. Cilj istraživanja je bio utvrditi korelaciju između igranja digitalnih igara i znanja engleskog jezika, s hipotezom da postoji pozitivna korelacija između igranja digitalnih igara i znanja engleskog vokabulara, naročito terminologije i kratica.

• Keywords: technology; digital games; foreign language learning
• Keywords (croatian): tehnologija; digitalne igre; učenje stranoga jezika
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:147:798696
• Study programme: Title: Integrated Undergraduate and Graduate University Programme of Study of Primary Teacher Education and Integrated Undergraduate and Graduate University Programme of Study for Primary Teacher Education with English and German Language; Study programme type: university; Study level: integrated undergraduate and graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra primarnog obrazovanja (magistar/magistra primarnog obrazovanja)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2018-07-10 10:05:46