ERIC Number: EJ1112218
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2155-6849
EISSN: N/A
Learning to Play, Playing to Learn: Comparing the Experiences of Adult Foreign Language Learners with Off-the-Shelf and Specialized Games for Learning German
De Grove, Frederik; Van Looy, Jan; Mechant, Peter
International Journal of Game-Based Learning, v3 n2 p22-35 2013
Learning opportunities offered by digital games have become an important research topic in recent years. Language learning is one of the areas in which games could prosper but the question then is whether these should be specialized language-learning games or commercial off-the-shelf games for entertainment. The goal of this paper is to compare the experiences evoked by playing a commercial and two language-learning games in adult foreign language learners (N = 62). While results of the experimental design suggest that a commercial game results in better playing and learning experiences, these findings are partly neutralized by the attitude of the participants towards learning through digital games and by being a frequent player of games or not. This raises questions as to how digital games should be designed to appeal to a public of learners that is not familiar with digital game-based learning or with gaming in general.
Descriptors: German, Comparative Analysis, Second Language Learning, Second Language Instruction, Educational Games, Computer Games, Experimental Groups, Learning Experience, Computer Assisted Instruction, Undergraduate Students, Adult Students, Questionnaires, Likert Scales, Student Attitudes, Language Proficiency, Statistical Analysis, Teaching Experience
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Adult Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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