VIDEO GAMES – A NEW SOURCE OF LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

Abstract

With the development of computers and the introduction of information technology, humanity paved the way for new ways to improve itself in various social, natural, and scientific fields such as entertainment, engineering, and medical developments. Video games in the past, due to their lack of narratives and images, were no more than black and white moving objects on a screen. However, as games have become more complicated in terms of gameplay and story, they have also become spectacular sources of firstly passive, but subsequently increasingly active linguistic involvement. In recent decades, video games in the field of language learning have received a lot of attention. These games provide limitless opportunities for language acquisition. Games are interactive in the sense that there is a relationship between the player and the game itself. The game reacts to the player’s activity, and the gamer reacts to the game. The games give the players the impression that their actions are co-decided and that the world they are in is co-created by them, not just by the game designers. Because each player’s actions and decisions vary, so does the game’s path. Students can be motivated to learn a language by using the appropriate tools and games if video games are interesting and rewarding. The game’s instant feedback depending on the player’s actions also aids with motivating. The following study will focus on how effectively video games can be used inside or outside the classroom environment. The study focuses mainly on pupils from the 10th and 11th classes. Students already have experience with playing video games in some forms. Their play style and attitude can highlight on the positive and negative effects of video games being used inside or outside the classroom. The participants for the study were chosen randomly with the help of a hyperlink, and the proper questionnaire was forwarded to them. The sharing of the hyperlink was controlled by the researcher. The results indicate a positive effect of using video games on language development of students. However, it is important to emphasize the dangers of using not just only video games, but the internet itself as well.