English Vocabulary Development Through MMORPGs: A theoretic study on the impact of vocabulary development through playing MMORPGs

Abstract

This study investigates how MMORPGs influence the vocabulary of L2 learners through comparing the existing research on vocabulary acquisition to shed new light on research on vocabulary acquisition within MMORPGs. Furthermore, it examines how the findings of the reviewed research can influence English education as we know it today. The research question are as follows: How does playing online role-playing games influence the vocabulary of learners of English, and should any research findings in this area be taken into the English classroom? To address my research question, I have split the thesis in three separate parts. The first reviewing research on vocabulary acquisition, the second looking into four studies concerning learning English as an L2 through MMORPGs, and the third a discussion on the didactic implications the findings of the studies from the second part may have on English education. The results of this study indicate that MMORPGs are great tools for creating a language learning environment. The Knowledge Promotion curriculum (Ministry of Education, 2017) encourages the use of medias as tools for learning, and demand diversity in education. MMORPGs and the principles of the games within the genre can prove to be very beneficial in future English education.