Extramural English, with an emphasis on gaming, and Norwegian National test scores in English, 8th grade

Abstract

In an increasingly globalized world, digital gaming has emerged, and learning English as a second language has changed towards being a language easily accessible in students out-of-school contexts. This thesis investigates if there are significant interactions between the participants extramural English language activities and the results on the NNT in English, 8th grade. English is a global language and functions as a lingua franca in entertainment such as gaming, streaming services and social media. In our research, data was collected from six 8th grade classes in Norwegian lower secondary schools through a quantitative research method, using a questionnaire and the results from the Norwegian National test in English, 8th grade. The questionnaire contains information about the participants background, gaming, and media habits and was linked to the participants results on the Norwegian National test in English. All analyses were computed using the software platform IBM SPSS statistics 28 and are presented through descriptive and inferential statistics. Significant interactions were found between extramural English language activities and the score of level on Norwegian National test in English 8th grade. Significant interactions were also found when dividing the group in gender. Tendencies show that a majority of the participants meet English content through extramural activities. Gender group differences were also found but vary in forms of what extramural activity the students engage in, in addition to differences to the extent they meet input, use/produce output and interact in L2.