Utku, Ö., & Dolgunsöz, E. (2018). Teaching EFL
vocabulary to young digital natives through Online
Games: A study with Turkish 5
th
grade EFL learners.
International Online Journal of Education and
Teaching (IOJET), 5(1), 115-130.
http://iojet.org/index.php/IOJET/article/view/228/223
Received: 05.07.2017
Received in revised form: 27.08.2017
Accepted: 01.09.2017
TEACHING EFL VOCABULARY TO YOUNG DIGITAL NATIVES THROUGH
ONLINE GAMES: A STUDY WITH TURKISH 5TH GRADE EFL LEARNERS
Özlem Utku
Bayburt University
ozlemutku@bayburt.edu.tr
Emrah Dolgunsöz
Bayburt University
emrahdolgunsoz@bayburt.edu.tr
Özlem Utku is a research assistant at Bayburt University, Department of ELT. She was
graduated from Uludağ University, Department of ELT. Currently, she holds her Master of
Arts degree at Anadolu University, ELT Department.
Emrah Dolgunsöz is an assistant professor at Bayburt University, Department of ELT. He is
also head of Foreign Languages Education Department of Bayburt University, Faculty of
Education. He received his MA and PhD from Hacettepe University. His main research areas
are psycholinguistics and eye-tracking.
Copyright by Informascope. Material published and so copyrighted may not be published
elsewhere without the written permission of IOJET.
http://iojet.org/index.php/IOJET/article/view/228/223
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7978-9195
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1277-2177
International Online Journal of Education and Teaching (IOJET) 2018, 5(1), 115-130.
115
TEACHING EFL VOCABULARY TO YOUNG DIGITAL NATIVES: A
STUDY WITH TURKISH 5TH GRADE EFL LEARNERS
Özlem Utku
ozlemutku@bayburt.edu.tr
Emrah Dolgunsöz
emrahdolgunsoz@bayburt.edu.tr
Abstract
The current study aimed to examine the effect of online vocabulary games on teaching
new words to young learners of EFL. For this aim, 46 Turkish 5
th
grade EFL students in a
state school were assigned into control and experimental groups. Both groups studied 22
words in 6 instructional sessions conducted in 6 subsequent weeks in the second semester
of 2016-2017 academic year. Throughout this period, the data were collected via
recognition-production tests and semi-structured interviews. The results of the recognition
and production tests showed that experimental group outperformed the control group in
terms of vocabulary gains. The results of the semi-structured interviews also supported the
quantitative results indicating that online vocabulary games increased students’
motivation. Additionally, it was observed that young learners were amused by digital
games and were willing to learn more via them.
Keywords: EFL, young learners, online vocabulary games, learning vocabulary
1. Theoretical Background
In recent years, teaching English to young learners (YLs) has attracted great attention
since many countries have lowered the age of learning additional languages in pre-school or
school education, which is now in its third wave (Johnstone, 2009). Johnstone (2009) argues
that the first movement began in the 1960s, and was put into practice by many countries
including the UK. The second wave began in the mid-1980s or early 1990s in several
countries across the world, which was encouraged by the European Commission and the
Council of Europe. Currently, as it has been just mentioned, lowering the age of learning
additional languages is in its third wave. Many countries such as China, South Korea,
Taiwan, India and Turkey have made some changes in their curricula for this aim. Having
different characteristic features, YLs were generally defined as any individual below 18
(Ellis, 2013). In a more detailed perspective, Ersöz (2007) defines YLs as children at 5-12
years old. Considering the age difference and different characteristics they have, it is obvious
that teaching English to YLs is different from teaching adults. Teachers should be aware of
these differences to teach in the way suitable for their students. At this point, the
characteristics of them also needs to be enlightened. In the light of Setyaningsih (2007), the
characteristics of YLs could be listed as follows:
Children have short attention span.
Children have a lot of natural curiosity.
Children need to have all five senses simulated.
Children find it difficult to deal with abstract things and concepts.
Children are sensitive.
mailto:ozlemutku@bayburt.edu.tr
mailto:emrahdolgunsoz@bayburt.edu.tr
Utku & Dolgunsöz
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YLs not only have these features but also they bring them into the classroom (Gürsoy,
2010; Halliwell, 1992). However, in addition to these characteristics, there are some other
specific features of today's kids which make them different from previous generations. The
main difference is the technology they can utilize and modern children are today described
with some novel terms such as digital immigrants or digital natives. Today's children are
digital natives who are the “native speakers” of the digital language of computers, video
games and the Internet (Prensky, 2001). Hence, this description lead teachers and curriculum
developers to be more precise in adjusting and integrating technology to language learning.
Besides, teachers are also required to have a digital competence beside their pedagogical
knowledge, beliefs, and their current practical implementations.
1.1. Teaching Vocabulary to YLs: How and What?
Learners of a language mainly expand their vocabulary knowledge in two main ways:
Incidental learning and intentional learning. Incidental learning refers to the process of
learning without an observable intention of doing so; that is, learning one thing while
intending to learn another (Richards & Schmidt, 2002). On the other hand, intentional
learning requires direct attention to the input to be learned (Richards & Schmidt, 2002). From
the definitions of the two terms, it can be concluded that incidental vocabulary learning
occurs without learners' observable effort to learn while intentional learning includes explicit
exposure to input. YLs were mostly exposed to explicit instruction (or intentional learning) in
their early stages of language learning (Cellat, 2008; Nation, 1990). Thus, the current
research focused incidental vocabulary acquisition among YLs via digital games and aimed
to examine its effects on learning gains.
Teaching new words to young learners has some distinct rules. Due to their characteristics,
YLs were more prone to learning words with concrete references in real world. Concrete
words should be taught before the abstract ones since the general consensus confirms that
concrete nouns are learned more readily and faster than abstract nouns, the reason of which
may be that it is probably very difficult to deal with abstract things and concepts for a kid
(Setyaningsih, 2007; Tomasello, 2014). For instance, learning 'pencilcase' is relatively easier
than learning 'honour' because teacher can make YLs feel, touch and see it. Another principle
was the function of the target word. Cellat (2008) noted that nouns were mostly recalled
better than other word classes. Depending on these 2 main tenets, the current study has
chosen “animals” as the target words.
1.2. Online Gaming and ELT
As one of the most enjoyable way of learning a foreign language, online games can be
used while teaching vocabulary (Dudeney & Hockly, 2012; Henry, 2013). Korkmaz (2012)
enlists several advantages of integrating games in young learners' classes:
Games are useful because they encourage learners to make an effort and sustain their
interest and work when learning a language.
Games help learners experience language with several opportunities to negotiate
meaning rather than only study it, which enables them to develop language skills
more rapidly when compared to the students who do not play games.
Learners learn English subjects better through games and learners absorb the language
better if language items are used repeatedly within games.
Games are useful ways of eliciting social interaction, particularly icebreakers and
warmer games help learners be creative, risk-takers, thoughtful, communicative, and
happy to work together with other learners.
International Online Journal of Education and Teaching (IOJET) 2018, 5(1), 115-130.
117
Games increase motivation of the learners. On the other hand, they lower the students'
anxiety.
With the help of the Internet, various types of games including digital games are
accessible today. They all can be used effectively to teach English, and specifically to make
teaching and learning environment suitable for digital natives. However, teachers should
think over which games to play, how to play, and when to play since selection of games is
extremely important, which will be explained in detail under the following subtitle.
1.3. Selection of Online Games
Many studies have revealed that use of online games while teaching English has a
facilitating effect on learners' acquisition of L2 (Peterson, 2010; Ranalli, 2008; Sahrir &
Yusri, 2012), which will possibly encourage teachers to use such games in their classes but
they should take some criteria into consideration while choosing appropriate ones for their
students. Wood (2001) developed five criteria to evaluate the nature of the vocabulary
instruction in the selected web sites or a software:
Does it relate the new to the known?
Does it promote active, in-depth processing? This includes (a) association
processing, (b) comprehension processing, and (c) generation processing.
Does it provide multiple exposures of new words?
Does it teach students to be strategic readers?
Does it promote additional reading?
These five criteria can serve as a guide for selection of games. However, as they are on
educational features of online games, some other criteria are needed to evaluate the web sites
or software in terms of technical features. According to the study of Wood (2001), a
vocabulary web site or software should include the following technical features to contribute
to vocabulary instruction:
animations,
video clips of related information,
sound components,
hyperlinks to related information,
ability to create one's own pathway through information,
the ability to pause, repeat information, or replay video clips,
hints or clues related to word meaning,
multimodal presentation of information,
online definitions, glossaries, or thesauruses.
Teachers can get benefit of all the criteria given above while deciding what to play.
However, most importantly, the teachers should consider what is required for children's
intellectual growth and other individual differences such as personality, language level,
background knowledge, attention span, attitudes towards playing games, learning styles and
intelligence types before choosing a game.
1.4. Previous Research
There are numerous studies on the issue of whether online vocabulary games have an
effect on learning vocabulary (Aghlara & Tamjid, 2011; Alias & Sahrir, 2011; Cellat, 2008;
Chou, 2014; Jang, 2014; Hong, Cheng, Hwang, Lee, & Chang, 2009; Sahrir & Yusri, 2012;
Sylvén & Sundqvist, 2012; Yip & Kwan, 2006). However, only are few researchers
conducted a study on this issue in Turkish EFL context (Cellat, 2008; Turgut & İrgin, 2009),
Utku & Dolgunsöz
118
and a relatively small number of studies were conducted on young learners’ learning
vocabulary through online vocabulary games (Aghlara & Tamjid, 2011). However, they all
revealed that digital games and online vocabulary games have facilitating effect on learning
an additional language.
Yip and Kwan (2006) conducted an experimental study on using online vocabulary as a
tool for teaching and learning English vocabulary with 3 teachers and 100 engineering
students. The primary aim of the study was to investigate how useful online vocabulary
games were to teach and learn English vocabulary. The instruction period was 9 weeks. The
quantitative results indicated that the experimental group outperformed the control group.
Furthermore, the findings obtained from the qualitative data collection instruments revealed
that the participants in the experimental group preferred online courses to face-to-face
lessons.
Similarly, Ashraf, Motlagh, and Salami (2014) investigated the usefulness of online games
in vocabulary learning of Iranian EFL students. The study had an experimental design and
was carried out with 24 lower intermediate learners. After determining the participants, the
instructor chose new words with a vast application domain in online games, and a pre-test,
including 5 fill-in-blank items and 15 multiple choice items, was utilized. The results of the
pre-test yielded non-significant results, that is, both groups were at the same level with
regards to the target words. The experimental group was allowed to learn the target words by
playing online vocabulary games whereas the students in the control group learnt the target
words through the conventional method, paper and pencil technique, that is, they learnt new
words in sentences, texts and passages. At the end of fifteen weeks, both groups took a post-
test, the same as the pre-test, and the results of the post-test indicated that the participants in
the experimental group scored better. So, it can be suggested that online vocabulary games
can be helpful in the process of teaching and learning vocabulary.
However, unlike the study of Yip and Kwan (2006), and the study of Ashraf et al. (2014),
Turgut and İrgin (2009) conducted a study with young learners in a Turkish EFL context. As
it was mentioned before, there are relatively a small number of studies conducted on this
issue in Turkey with young learners. For this reason, the study of Turgut and İrgin (2009) is
highly worthwhile. The researchers collected data through observations and semi-structured
interviews because the participants were 10 children spending long hours playing computer
games in Internet cafes. So, the aim of collecting data qualitatively through observation and
semi-structured interviews was to investigate young learners’ experiences of language
learning while playing computer games in Internet cafes. The findings revealed three major
meanings of young learners’ experiences of language learning through the games: transfer,
motivation and awareness. The participants practiced the unknown words and transferred
them in different tasks and steps during the game. Regarding motivation, they were extremely
interested in computer games. Lastly, in respect of awareness, the findings indicated that the
participants were aware of the pros and cons of the game.
Another study carried out with young learners in Turkey EFL setting is the study of Cellat
(2008). The study was carried out with sixty-eight 4
th
grade Turkish EFL learners who
enrolled in a primary school in Turkey. The study of Cellat (2008) was very similar to the
current study but there are, of course, differences. For instance, Cellat (2008) used immediate
and delayed tests to collect data, so the researcher examined retention of English vocabulary,
too. Moreover, Cellat (2008) investigated whether Computer Assisted Language Learning
(CALL), more specifically Computer Assisted Vocabulary Instruction (CAVI) would be
helpful or not. That’s why, there were two groups of participants: the CAVI group and the
teacher-led group. For two weeks, the participants studied 40 words. The CAVI group
International Online Journal of Education and Teaching (IOJET) 2018, 5(1), 115-130.
119
studied the words with software while the teacher-led group studied the same words through
flashcards and the materials prepared by the researcher. After each implementation, both
groups took a recognition and a production test. They also sat for the same tests two weeks
and one month after each implementation session to determine retention of vocabulary. The
results revealed that the CAVI group outperformed significantly in the immediate and
delayed recognition tests, and in the immediate production test whereas in the delayed
production test there was no statistically significant difference between the CAVI and the
teacher-led group. Besides the quantitative data instruments, the researcher also administrated
a semi-structured interview with the participants in the CAVI group to clear the perceptions
of the participants about applications. The findings of the interviews supported the findings
of the previous studies (Turgut & İrgin, 2009; Yip & Kwan, 2006), and provided an evidence
for facilitating effect of digital games on young learners’ vocabulary learning.
Bearing this in mind and noticing that there are a small number of studies carried out with
young learners in Turkish EFL setting, the current study was conducted to investigate
whether learning EFL vocabulary by integrating online vocabulary games into the ordinary
lessons would prove to be beneficial when compared to learning vocabulary without using
such games. For this aim, the following research questions were addressed:
1) Is there an effect of digital games on learning EFL vocabulary for young
learners?
2) What are the opinions of the students on the use of online vocabulary games
while teaching EFL vocabulary?
2. Methodology
2.1. Research Design
This study employs a mixed-method research design consisting of both qualitative and
quantitative procedures. Quantitative aspect is quasi-experimental with pre- and post-tests.
Qualitative part includes semi-structured interviews with some of the participants.
2.2. Participants
The participants were assigned into 2 groups as experimental and control groups. The
groups were already assigned as two different classes, so a convenience sampling was
applied to determine the experimental and the control group. 46 students participated in the
study: 25 students in the experimental group and 21 students in the control group. They are
5
th
grade students who enrolled at a secondary state school in Turkey in age range of 11 to
13, (M=11,32, SD=,63). Their L1 is Turkish, and they all have the same educational
background. Weekly they study English for 5 hours: 3 hours as a compulsory course, 2 hours
as an elective course. Their socio-economic status is nearly the same with each other.
The teacher of the classes was also a participant. However, no data was gathered from the
teacher, that is, the teacher only helped during the procedure.
2.3. Materials
22 words were determined as the target words (Table 1).
Utku & Dolgunsöz
120
Table 1. Target words
Farm Animals Wild & Zoo Animals
1. Cow
2. Sheep
3. Goose
4. Rabbit
5. Pig
6. Duck
7. Chick
8. Horse
9. Goat
Fish
Roaster
1. Rhino
2. Wolf
3. Tiger
4. Camel
5. Crocodile
6. Snake
7. Lion
8. Fox
9. Ostrich
Bear
Squirrel
The words were determined in accordance with the official syllabus and the coursebook.
Before determining the target words, opinion of the teacher was asked. The aim was not to
drop behind the syllabus since it might be time-consuming for the teacher to implement such
a study. In the end, they decided to use these words as the target words because both classes
were in the ninth unit, the Animal Shelter. The target words of the current unit were not the
same as the target words used, yet there were some words overlapping. So, it would not be
time-consuming for the teacher to implement such a study.
2.4. Procedure
The instructional period lasted six weeks for each group. The groups were started
instruction in the same schedule and four weekly instructional sessions were carried out for
each group. The sessions were carried out during the students’ regular class hours. Each
group took 2 weeks of instructional sessions for farm animals and sat for recognition and
production post-test in the following week. Recognition post-test was conducted at the
beginning of the 3rd week and production post-test was given at the end of the same week.
The following 2 weeks were allocated for instruction for zoo animals. Same procedures were
maintained. The detailed schedule was given below:
Table 2. Instructional and assessment sessions schedule
Time Procedure
1 week before the instructional
period
Recognition pre-test for zoo and farm animals
Production pre-test for zoo and farm animals
1
st
and 2
nd
weeks Instruction for farm animals
3
rd
week Recognition and production post-tests for farm
animals
4
th
and 5
th
week Instruction for zoo animals
6
th
week Recognition and production post-test for zoo
animals
The experimental group studied the words of farm animals for two weeks through online
vocabulary games. In the following third week, the teacher conducted the post-tests. In the
beginning of the third week, the recognition post-test of farm animals was administered, and
at the end of the week the production post-test was utilized. After that, in the fourth week, the
International Online Journal of Education and Teaching (IOJET) 2018, 5(1), 115-130.
121
words of wild and zoo animals were studied, and the post-tests were utilized in the same way
the post-tests of farm animals were conducted.
Different from the experimental group, the control group received ordinary classroom
applications during each implementation session. Flashcards and reading comprehension
activities were used to teach the target words. The teacher first presented the words of farm
animals by using flashcards, and then the students practiced the target words within the
activities prepared by the teacher. The control group studied the words of farm animals for
two weeks. After the implementations, the post-tests were utilized in the same way the
experimental group were tested. The procedure was the same when the students in the control
group studied the words of wild and zoo animals.
Lastly, the teacher interviewed five students from the experimental group to explore
perceptions of the students on the use of online vocabulary games to learn English
vocabulary.
2.5. Instruments
Online vocabulary games (http://www.eslgamesworld.com/). The criteria mentioned
before to choose the web site was used. The selection was, to some extent, a convenience one
because the web site includes the target words. The following games were used respectively:
matching game, word search, crossword puzzle, spelling game, two board games – crocodile
board game, pirate board game, and Canon Volley Sea Battle Game which can be played
with two players or teams.
Flashcards and reading texts for the control group. The teacher taught the vocabulary
items in the way she usually does. She preferred to use reading comprehension activities and
flashcards.
Testing materials. There were two pre-tests and two post-tests. Before the
implementations, the pre-tests were utilized with the aim of examining to what extent the
instruction would be profitable with regards to learning the target words. For this aim, two
recognition pre-tests, one for “farm animals” and one for “wild & zoo animals”, and two
production pre-tests one for “farm animals” and one for “wild & zoo animals” were prepared.
The design of the tests prepared by Cellat (2008) was adopted, yet some changes were made
since both the target words of the current study and Cellat’s (2008) study and the way the
tests were used were different. In the recognition pre-test, the participants were to match the
words with the pictures. In the production pre-test, there were pictures of the words, the
participants wrote the word for each picture.
The post-tests were the same with the pre-tests but the words and pictures were displayed
in different orders to minimize the effect of test familiarity.
Semi-structured interviews. Five students from the experimental group were interviewed
to shed light on opinions of the participants about the use of online vocabulary games while
teaching vocabulary. The students interviewed were chosen on a voluntary basis. The
following questions were addressed:
Did you like studying vocabulary through online vocabulary games? Why/Why not?
Would you like to study any other vocabulary items through online vocabulary
games?
The aim of conducting semi-structured interviews was to triangulate the data since
Nunan (1992) points out that perhaps the best way of guarding against threats to the
reliability and validity of studies is to obtain data from more than one source. So, the results
http://www.eslgamesworld.com/
Utku & Dolgunsöz
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obtained from the interviews were used to provide an insight to the process from the
participants’ point of view.
2.6. Data Analysis
To analyze the quantitative data, recognition post-tests were averaged as a single
dependent variable (total recognition post-test) and same procedure was applied for
production post-test (total production post-test). Two ANCOVAs was conducted (recognition
and production) with the aim of investigating whether use of online vocabulary games has an
effect on learners’ vocabulary learning in terms of recognition and production.
With respect to the qualitative analysis, the Constant Comparative Method (Glaser &
Strauss, 1967) was utilized. Glaser and Strauss (1967) defines the Constant Comparative
Method as “an approach which combines explicit coding and generating theoretical ideas by
constantly redesigning and reintegrating theoretical notions”. The Constant Comparative
Method is designed to help the analyst to generate a theory that is integrated, consistent,
plausible, close to the data and at the same time is in a form clear enough to be readily
operationalized for testing in quantitative research (Glaser & Strauss, 1967).
3. Findings
The data were collected both quantitatively and qualitatively in the current study. The
quantitative data was obtained from the pre-tests and the post-tests, and the qualitative data
were collected through the semi-structured interviews. The aim of conducting the interview
was to support the quantitative data by triangulating the data.
3.1. The Effect of Instruction on 6-Week Development
For the quantitative analysis, two ANCOVAs were conducted to reveal instructional
effects on performance as ANCOVA can enable controlling of the desired variable within
between subjects procedure. In current research, pre-tests were controlled to see if instruction
type had any effect on ultimate learning gains. By controlling production pre-test scores, an
ANCOVA was conducted with production post-test as the dependent variable, group type as
the factor and production pre-test as the covariate to see the effect of instruction type on
production test scores. The results showed that experimental group significantly
outperformed (M= 76.01, SE=2.37, CI:95%) control group (M= 66.2, SE= 2.60, CI:95%); F
(1,44) = 7.620, p= .008, d=.97. Similarly, by controlling recognition pre-test scores, an
ANCOVA was conducted with recognition post-test as the dependent variable, group type as
the factor and recognition pre-test as the covariate to see the effect of instruction type on
recognition performance. The results showed that experimental group significantly scored
better than (M= 90.50, SE=2.50, CI:95%) the control group (M= 82.59, SE= 2.74, CI:95%);
F (1,44) = 4.485, p= .040, d=.41. Regarding both recognition and production performance,
experimental group scored more than control group did. Clustered bar graph indicating
descriptives were as follows:
International Online Journal of Education and Teaching (IOJET) 2018, 5(1), 115-130.
123
Graph 1. Descriptives of pre- and post-test results
3.2. Learner Opinions
The teacher interviewed five students from the experimental group to examine learners’
opinions about the use of online vocabulary games while studying vocabulary. The Constant
Comparative Method (Glaser & Strauss, 1967) was conducted to analyze the qualitative data
collected through the semi-structured interviews. The findings revealed that online
vocabulary games are very profitable to teach vocabulary in an environment appropriate to
digital natives. All five participants stated that they liked studying vocabulary through online
vocabulary games. Moreover, they all indicated that they had fun while studying vocabulary
via online vocabulary games, which can easily be understood from the following extracts
taken from the interviews:
I love English very much but sometimes I get bored with the book. However, these games
are very fun. I want to play them all the time because I don’t get bored when I play such kind
of games. (Participant 1)
I was not very good at English before playing these games, but now I think I am better.
Studying vocabulary with these games is very fun and easy. (Participant 3)
The teacher herself also stated that these games helped her to make her teaching more
effective and attention-grabbing since even the low-level students, who normally deal with
something else instead of the material used during the lessons, were very willing to
participate in all the activities. She told the students always asked when they would play
these games again, and whether there were any other games for the other units. The findings,
analysis of the second interview question revealed, supported the teacher’s statement, too. All
five participants agreed on the fact that they would like to study any other vocabulary items
through online vocabulary games. The following extracts clearly indicate willingness of the
students:
Thank you so much teacher for letting us play the games. They are very fun. I hope we
will play them again. I want to learn the words with these games. (Participant 2)
I liked the games so much. They are very enjoyable and easy to play. I didn’t get bored
during the lessons. I think we should play these games while studying other words, too.
(Participant 4)
Getting such pleasing results from the interviews can encourage teachers who have
reluctant students. The teachers can easily get an access to the web sites and make use of
them. If they do so, they can both have more willing students and decrease the boredom
Utku & Dolgunsöz
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caused by use of the coursebooks all the time. Moreover, the students may develop a positive
attitude towards learning a foreign language thanks to the online games.
4. Discussion
The results of the study showed that online games could facilitate EFL vocabulary
learning and retention while they also provided a motivating learning atmosphere. These
results confirmed the recent study by Sylvén and Sundqvist (2012) conducted in Swedish
context with 86 young learners in an age range of 11-12. Through questionnaires, diary
entries and proficiency tests, they found out a correlation between L2 proficiency and online
games playing frequency and defined playing online games as an extramural activity
(learning activity outside the classroom). Their findings showed that playing multiplayer
games (MMORPGs) at an early age could be important for L2 acquisition. The findings of
the current study were also consistent with the results of Smith et al. (2013) who investigated
how Chinese undergraduate college students studying EFL learned new vocabulary with
inference-based computer games embedded in eBooks. In their experimental design, they
used a database which recorded students’ game playing behaviors in the log file. Students
were also pre- and post-tested on new vocabulary words with the Vocabulary Knowledge
Scale. Similar to our results, they also observed that participants in computer game condition
learned significantly more vocabulary that control group did.
Different from the current research, Peterson (2012) analyzed the effect of online
games in a sociocultural perspective. This exploratory study examined the linguistic and
social interaction of four intermediate EFL learners during game play in a MMORPG.
Qualitative analysis showed that interactional features embedded in these games could
elevate sociocultural competence. It was observed that players engaged interaction through
dialogue boxes and made appropriate use of politeness involving greetings, informal
language, small talk, humor etc.
In terms of motivational effect of online games, the current research supported the
study by Chien (2015) which investigated the perceptions of and attitudes toward three online
vocabulary flashcard websites, Quizlet, Study Stack, and Flashcard Exchange in Taiwanese
context. Data collection tools were classroom observations, participants’ online flashcards
and learning records and interviews. The results were similar to the qualitative findings of the
current research, learners held positive attitudes toward learning and improving their
vocabulary abilities via online games.
The related literature clearly emphasized the facilitating effect of learning through
online games in EFL context and the results of the current study supported this proposal.
However, a distinction should be made among online games as MMORPGs and educational
online games. MMORPGs are massively multiplayer online games played by large numbers
of gamers simultaneously via the internet. Today millions of people, especially young digital
natives, play these online games as they provide a wide array of social interaction and fun. As
it was mentioned above, MMORPGs were also highly motivating among online games as
they can provide unique digital social experience; however, they were found to be seriously
addictive (e.g., Billieux, Deleuze, Griffiths, & Kuss, 2015; Kuss, Louws, & Wiers, 2012;
Kuss & Griffits, 2012). A study by Hussain, Griffiths and Baguley (2012) conducted a study
with 1420 gamers between age range of 12 to 62 via online questionnaire. The results showed
that nearly half of the gamers (44,5%) were classified as addicted. Besides, the study by Kim,
Namkoong, Ku and Kim (2008) aimed to reveal the relationship between MMORPG
addiction and personality traits through an online survey. The results obtained from 1471
gamers showed that certain psychological characteristics such as aggression, self-control and
narcissistic personality traits may predispose some individuals to become addicted to
International Online Journal of Education and Teaching (IOJET) 2018, 5(1), 115-130.
125
MMORPGs. Thus, in language classroom, even if it was emphasized as motivating, online
games should be handled with care and be selected carefully especially for young digital
natives.
5. Conclusion
This study was conducted to investigate whether learning foreign language vocabulary
would prove to be profitable for young digital natives who study vocabulary through online
vocabulary games when compared to students who study the same vocabulary items through
materials prepared by the teacher. For this aim, two groups of 5
th
grade Turkish EFL learners,
the experimental group and the control group, participated in the study. For one and a half
months, the researchers carried out the study with the help of a teacher. Data were collected
both quantitatively and qualitatively, through recognition and production pre-tests and post-
tests, and through semi-structured interviews. The results of the quantitative data revealed
that the experimental group outperformed the control group. Moreover, the findings obtained
from the interviews indicated that the participants in the experimental group was highly
willing to participate in the online vocabulary games. The teacher also stated that the online
games increased students’ motivation and helped them actively take part in the lessons.
In the light of the results of the current study, and the studies discussed previously, it can
be noted that bringing such kind of fun materials to the teaching and learning environment
can be highly beneficial and motivating for both the students and the teachers. If teachers of
English want to make the teaching and learning process suitable for “digital natives”, they
should get benefit of technology and the Internet.
6. Implications for Teaching and Learning
The teachers, especially the teachers in Turkey, are bound to use the coursebooks, and
sometimes they may overuse them without bringing any additional materials to the class.
However, it is quite likely that use of the coursebook all the time will create an undesirable
teaching and learning environment. On the other hand, it is now very easy to make use of
technology and the Internet to create a teaching environment in which learners will enjoy
learning a language, feel confident and motivated, and will be able to find additional
materials to learn on their own. Online vocabulary games can be given as example of
integrating technology and the Internet into the teaching and learning environment. So,
regarding teachers, online vocabulary games can be used as an aid to the coursebook to
increase the students’ motivation, to decrease level of anxiety, and to suit the teaching and
learning process to “today’s world”. With respect to learners, they can be used as a self-
guided learning tool out of the classroom, too.
Utku & Dolgunsöz
126
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Appendices
Appendix A
Sample Lesson Plan for the Experimental Group
Week 1 – Lesson 1
Duration: 40 minutes
Aim: The students will name and write the words of farm animals.
Objectives: By the end of the lesson, the students will be able to;
1. recognize the words of farm animals in an online matching game.
2. identify the words of farm animals in an online word-search game.
3. relate the words of farm animals to their spelling via an online crossword puzzle game.
Procedure:
1. Lead-in: The teacher starts a conversation on his/her favorite animals and asks
questions to the students on whether they like animals and their favorite animals.
5 mins.
2. Online matching game: The teacher presents the words of farm animals and
shows how to play the game. Then, he/she lets students play the game one by one or
in pairs.
10 mins.
3. Online word-search game: The teacher introduces the game and shows how to
play the game. Then, he/she lets students play the game one by one or in pairs.
10 mins.
4. Online crossword puzzle game: The teacher introduces the game and shows how
to play the game. Then, he/she lets students play the game one by one or in pairs.
15 mins.
Utku & Dolgunsöz
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Appendix B
Online Game screenshots