World of (English and) Warcraft: Prospects of learning English through MMORPGS

master's thesis

• Title (croatian): Mogućnosti učenja engleskog jezika putem MMORPG igrice World of Warcraft
• Author: Franko Jagorinec
• Mentor: Stela Letica Krevelj (mentor)
• Committee member: Marina Grubišić (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Jasenka Čengić (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of English language and literature); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2021-12-20, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Philology; Anglistics

Abstract

In the recent years, there has been a surge in research studies dedicated to prospects of learning English through video games, specifically MMORPGs. As video games grow in quality and popularity, so does their potential for learning English. Today, more than ever, MMORPGs focus on interaction between players as well as facilitating community building and cooperative gameplay via new and interesting gameplay mechanics. They provide authentic linguistic input as well as strengthen willingness to communicate between players by rewarding them for producing linguistic output, all while alleviating common affective filters found in the classroom. This study will partly replicate Mark Peterson’s study (2011), investigating the use of the MMORPG Wonderland and its effect on language acquisition, but using a with a different game, specifically, World of Warcraft. The results are based on the information collected during and after six sessions in which four participants played the game. The results show that the participants engaged in forms of interaction that are hypothesized to be beneficial for SLA.

Abstract (croatian)

Sve je više istraživanja posvećenih učenju engleskog jezika putem videoigara, posebice onih iz kategorije MMORPG igara. Kako videoigre postaju kvalitetnije i popularnije, tako se povećava njihov potencijal za učenjem engleskog. Danas se, više no ikad prije, MMORPG-ovi fokusiraju na interakciju između igrača, kao i na građenje zajednice i suradničko igranje putem novih i zanimljivih mehanizama. MMORPG igre pružaju autentičan jezični input i nagrađuju igrače koji proizvode jezični output, jer potiču daljnju komunikaciju. Osim toga, takve videoigre oslabljuj afektivne filtere, koje često pronalazimo u tradicionalnoj učionici. U ovom će se radu djelomično replicirati istraživanje Marka Petersona iz 2013. o učincima MMORPG videoigre Wonderland na usvajanje jezika, ali će fokus biti na videoigri World of Warcraft. Rezultati istraživanja temelje se na podacima prikupljenim tijekom i nakon šest sesija u kojima su četiri ispitanika igrala igru. Rezultati su pokazali da su ispitanici sudjelovali u vrstama interakcije koje se smatraju korisnima pri usvajanju stranog jezika.

• Keywords: MMORPG; World of Warcraft; CALL; SLA
• Keywords (croatian): MMORPG; World of Warcraft; računalno potpomognuto učenje jezika; usvajanje stranog jezika
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:131:544650
• Study programme: Title: English Language and Literature (double major); specializations in: Linguistics, Literature and Culture, Translation, TEFL; Course: TEFL; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra edukacije engleskog jezika i književnosti (magistar/magistra edukacije engleskog jezika i književnosti)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2022-03-01 19:48:18