Gamers' Experience on Incidental Language Learning by Playing Defense of the Ancient 2

Abstract

<p>As information and communication technology (ICT) plays more important role in recent years, the use of ICT tools and media is more common in learning language. One of ICT media that is promising for language learning is online games because they facilitate incidental language learning as they inherently form part of reading, listening, speaking, and writing. This case study aims to investigate the opinion of gamers about the use of online game <em>Defense of the Ancient 2 (DoTA 2) </em>to learn language. Data were collected through field observation, semi-structured interview, and documentation. Two participants were interviewed. The findings of this research is that <em>DoTA 2</em> supports incidental English language learning because it is easy to use and understand the langauge in the game platform; the content encourages gamers to use English so that gamers learn new vocabularies and practice their English reading skill while playing; the social interaction through chat room and voice chat in planning strategies encorage gamers to communicate in English; the enjoyment from the motivation to win the game makes gamers practice English in team strategy discussion. However, <em>DoTA 2</em> only focuses on the action of strategies to win the game rather than intended interaction to learn language.</p>

The Effects of an MMORPG on Thai EFL University Students’ Reading for Main Ideas

“…Several factors support this claim. First, previous studies (Alyaz & Genc, 2016;Hapsari et al, 2019) have shown that online games can improve language students' reading and vocabulary abilities. Second, online games have been found to enhance students' intrinsic motivation (Bryant, 2006).…”

“…while playing the game, and the game also increased the students' intrinsic motivation for looking up unfamiliar words in a dictionary after playing the game. Hapsari et al (2019) examined the impact of the MMORPG Dota 2 on English language learning. The study explored gamers' perspectives and found that Dota 2 facilitated incidental learning of English.…”

“…The game designer met the challenge of carefully harmonizing the educational elements of the game with the text-based reading passages. Lastly, while many research studies have employed online games primarily designed for entertainment purposes, this study addressed the concern by customizing an online game into an educational tool by specifically targeting reading difficulties among students, ensuring the game's suitability for language learning (Hapsari et al, 2019;Zhang et al, 2017).…”

Can We Trust an AI Agent? Interaction Effects of Its Machine Learning Performance and Digital Character

“…These resulted in the professionalization of MOBA and the possibilities of forming multinational teams composed of players from around the world (see Kołodziej, 2019) Dota 2 requires at least basic knowledge of English (see e.g. Hapsari et al, 2018) and this is the language usually used in heterogeneous teams (some exceptions here are Asian squads; see e.g. Ismangil, 2018; hence continuing to be the most mono-national ones).…”

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“…Some participants in the research of Hulstijn (2008) also added that motive for L2 learning can be triggered by the students' pleasure in gaming. According to Hapsari (2018), social interaction during the game encourages incidental language learning as the game, DotA, requires the students to communicate and interact with peers all the time in both chat room and voice chat, providing opportunities for collaborative and team-based learning for the players. In addition, it is also found that when the students enjoy interacting and planning strategy to beat the other team, incidental language learning happens.…”