Vocabulary Development through Online Role-Playing Games: Perspectives of Turkish EFL University Learners.
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| Title: | Vocabulary Development through Online Role-Playing Games: Perspectives of Turkish EFL University Learners. |
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| Authors: | ASLAN, Peri1 Peri.aslan@inonu.edu.tr |
| Source: | Arab World English Journal. Jun2026, Vol. 17 Issue 2, p63-77. 15p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Incidental learning, *Nonformal education, *Second language acquisition, *Higher education, *Gamification, Roleplaying games |
| Abstract: | Limited opportunities are available for many English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners to regularly access examples of 'real-life' English vocabulary through sources beyond classroom walls. Digital game-based learning has been gaining popularity in academia, and the potential of online Role-Playing Games (RPGs) as informal contexts for vocabulary growth and development (especially in Higher Education) remains a relatively unexamined area. The purpose of this study is to investigate the degree to which Turkish EFL university students utilise Online RPGs as a 'foreign language incubator' to promote vocabulary and language use. Surveys were used to gather data from 70 foreign language learners, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 50 students who frequently played commercially produced RPGs. The findings suggest that continued use of RPGs has a positive impact on vocabulary development. Repeated, increased exposure to RPGs through play provides learners with opportunities to learn action- and object-related vocabulary, with contextualisation within the gaming context. Most of the vocabulary being learned in these contexts is being identified as derived from the RPGs. Additionally, the semistructured interviews revealed that foreign language learners are likely to use contextual inference and visualisation techniques when faced with ambiguity in texts and graphics encountered during gameplay of RPGs. In summary, a majority of respondents reported incidental vocabulary acquisition while playing RPGs; participants also indicated that commercial RPGs do not provide the necessary "pedagogical scaffolding" to enable "good language practice" while playing. It has been determined that extramural digital contexts hold great potential for facilitating vocabulary acquisition, and this research may yield pedagogical implications for incorporating informal gaming into the formal EFL classroom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Arab World English Journal is the property of Arab World English Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 194770406 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Vocabulary Development through Online Role-Playing Games: Perspectives of Turkish EFL University Learners. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22ASLAN%2C+Peri%22">ASLAN, Peri</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> Peri.aslan@inonu.edu.tr</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Arab+World+English+Journal%22">Arab World English Journal</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 17 Issue 2, p63-77. 15p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Incidental+learning%22">Incidental learning</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nonformal+education%22">Nonformal education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Second+language+acquisition%22">Second language acquisition</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+education%22">Higher education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gamification%22">Gamification</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Roleplaying+games%22">Roleplaying games</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Limited opportunities are available for many English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners to regularly access examples of 'real-life' English vocabulary through sources beyond classroom walls. Digital game-based learning has been gaining popularity in academia, and the potential of online Role-Playing Games (RPGs) as informal contexts for vocabulary growth and development (especially in Higher Education) remains a relatively unexamined area. The purpose of this study is to investigate the degree to which Turkish EFL university students utilise Online RPGs as a 'foreign language incubator' to promote vocabulary and language use. Surveys were used to gather data from 70 foreign language learners, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 50 students who frequently played commercially produced RPGs. The findings suggest that continued use of RPGs has a positive impact on vocabulary development. Repeated, increased exposure to RPGs through play provides learners with opportunities to learn action- and object-related vocabulary, with contextualisation within the gaming context. Most of the vocabulary being learned in these contexts is being identified as derived from the RPGs. Additionally, the semistructured interviews revealed that foreign language learners are likely to use contextual inference and visualisation techniques when faced with ambiguity in texts and graphics encountered during gameplay of RPGs. In summary, a majority of respondents reported incidental vocabulary acquisition while playing RPGs; participants also indicated that commercial RPGs do not provide the necessary "pedagogical scaffolding" to enable "good language practice" while playing. It has been determined that extramural digital contexts hold great potential for facilitating vocabulary acquisition, and this research may yield pedagogical implications for incorporating informal gaming into the formal EFL classroom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Arab World English Journal is the property of Arab World English Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.24093/awej/vol17no2.5 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 15 StartPage: 63 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Incidental learning Type: general – SubjectFull: Nonformal education Type: general – SubjectFull: Second language acquisition Type: general – SubjectFull: Higher education Type: general – SubjectFull: Gamification Type: general – SubjectFull: Roleplaying games Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Vocabulary Development through Online Role-Playing Games: Perspectives of Turkish EFL University Learners. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: ASLAN, Peri IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 06 Text: Jun2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 22299327 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 17 – Type: issue Value: 2 Titles: – TitleFull: Arab World English Journal Type: main |
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