The Impact of Video Games on the Vocabulary Size of EFL  Learners in Morocco

Abdennour Sabiri

doi:10.34301/alsc.v8i1.47

Authors

Abdennour Sabiri Ben Msik Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Hassan II University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34301/alsc.v8i1.47

Keywords:

Video games, Vocabulary acquisition, Vocabulary size, Educational Technology, Morocco

Abstract

In Morocco, research in the area of video games’ effects on language learning and language acquisition remains relatively unexplored. This research aimed to explore whether gamers can acquire vocabulary through video games or not. To test that, an online vocabulary levels test was distributed to English-speaking students from different universities in Morocco, then scores were compared using SPSS 25. The difference between the scores of gamers and those of non-gamers was not significant. However, gamers who focused on the voice-acting and dialogues of video games performed much better than gamers who focused on other aspects, such as gameplay, and story. Overall, the results suggest that the effect video games may have on students who major in English Studies or majors that are taught in English are minimal. That is not to say that the effect is non-existent. Based on the implications of these results and while taking into account the infrastructure of Moroccan education, if video games are to be employed as educational tools in the classroom, we suggested visual novels, a video game genre that focuses on character interaction and dialogue. 　

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