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Factors Influencing ESL Players’ Use of Vocabulary Learning Strategies in Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPG)

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Abstract

The study investigates the impact of Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) on players’ application of vocabulary learning strategies. The participants are experienced online gamers aged between 24 and 25 years old. Apart from identifying the vocabulary learning strategies used by the ESL players during online gaming, in order to find out how aspects related to MMORPG influence the use of strategies, data were also obtained from online semi-structured interviews with these (ESL) players who are involved in Guild Wars 2, a popular MMORPG computer game. Using Gu and Johnson’s (1996) categorisation of vocabulary learning strategies (VLS), it was found that these ESL players utilise metacognitive, cognitive, memory and activation strategies in order to learn game-related vocabulary during the MMORPG game-play sessions. Additionally, there are four factors that affect the vocabulary language learning experience of the players, and they consist of; (a) the role of game storylines in enhancing MMORPG gaming immersion, (b) freedom to learn while being away from classroom-related rules, (c) social interaction that enriches players’ learning experience, and (d) the role of collaboration among the MMORPG community in enriching learning experience.

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Data Availability

The datasets generated during and analysed during the current study are not publicly available due to them containing information that could compromise research participant privacy/consent, but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We hereby submit the manuscript entitled ESL Players’ Use of Vocabulary Learning Strategies in Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPG) to be considered for publication in The Asia Pacific Educational Researcher. We confirm that we have removed any identifying content that could compromise a blind review. This is an original submission that has not been published before and that is not currently under review at any other publication outlet.

Funding

This work was partially supported by the University Malaya Research Grants [UMRG: RP051C-17HTM].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Ng Lee Luan, Rino Sharieful Azizie  & Shin Yi Chew

Authors
  1. Ng Lee Luan
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  2. Rino Sharieful Azizie
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  3. Shin Yi Chew
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Contributions

LLN, RSASG and CSY contributed to the conception and design of the study, interpretation of data, and drafting of the manuscript. RSASG performed the data collection. LLN and CSY was involved in critical revision of the article. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Ng Lee Luan.

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Appendices

Appendix

Appendix A

See Table 6

Table 6 Gu and Johnson’s (1996) categorisation of vocabulary learning strategies
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Appendix B

See Table 7

Table 7 Online semi-structured interview questions
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Ng, L.L., Rino Sharieful Azizie & Chew, S.Y. Factors Influencing ESL Players’ Use of Vocabulary Learning Strategies in Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPG). Asia-Pacific Edu Res 31, 369–381 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40299-021-00578-6

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