Title: Tapping into the field of foreign language learning games

Authors: Frederik De Grove; Frederik Cornillie; Peter Mechant; Jan Van Looy

Addresses: IBBT – MICT, Ghent University, Korte Meer 7, 9000 Ghent, Belgium ' ITEC – IBBT – K.U.Leuven, E. Sabbelaan 53, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium ' IBBT – MICT, Ghent University, Korte Meer 7, 9000 Ghent, Belgium ' IBBT – MICT, Ghent University, Korte Meer 7, 9000 Ghent, Belgium

Abstract: The use of serious games has seen a remarkable growth in the past decade. This has resulted in a substantial number of people with hands-on experience. However, to our knowledge, no research has been performed to harvest this source of information. By means of an explorative study, we collected the opinions of 47 serious game and computer-assisted language learning experts on the potential of serious games for foreign language learning. The first part of this paper discusses the opinions of experts in the light of different perspectives on foreign language learning. The next part of this paper elaborates on a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis of foreign language learning games, resulting in a nuanced view on the opportunities and limitations of foreign language learning games. As such, this paper explores possibilities and limitations regarding language learning games and frames those findings within the boundaries of literature on foreign language learning.

Keywords: foreign language learning; gaming; experts; qualitative; quantitative; survey; SWOT; strengths weaknesses opportunities threats; serious games; language learning games; computer-assisted learning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJART.2013.050690

International Journal of Arts and Technology, 2013 Vol.6 No.1, pp.44 - 60

Published online: 01 Dec 2012 *

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