Video game usage in the acquisition of vocabulary for english as a foreign language

Abstract

The main focus of this research is to look through multiple video games to find possible uses for them as a means of vocabulary acquisition for learners of English as a foreign language (EFL). Seeing as we live in a time of quick technological evolution, with an ever-expanding catalog of innovations which are becoming more readily available every day, it would make sense to utilize these technologies as a support in our learning. As such, interactive media, such as video games could be utilized with great benefit in language learning, more specifically, with the acquisition of vocabulary if the proper research and methodology is used. The methodology for this research consists of an analysis of the video games, utilizing the gathered literature review of previous research and methods as a basis for the games' assessment and analysis. With that in mind, three games were assessed, studied and the main vocabulary points of each were outlined, together with possible activities for each of them that could help in the acquisition of vocabulary. The games were selected based on their genre, the way in which English is presented (written, spoken, real-time conversations) and English level (A2, B2 and C1 or C2); all so that an autonomous learner or even a language teacher/tutor could possibly apply these games, basing themselves on these criteria. The analysis does bring forth many ways in which the selected games can be effectively worked with in the acquisition of vocabulary for EFL; with each of the video games bringing something important into light, such as the ability to study the language as much as necessary for the acquisition, systems of meaningful real-time communication, and a distinguished variety in vocabulary not only amongst each other, but in each of them. [resumo fornecido pelo autor]