A Review of Rationales for Research in Game-Mediated Second and Foreign Language Learning and Pedagogy

• In Event: Examining Technology and Game-Based Language Teaching and Learning

Abstract

Game-mediated second and foreign language (GML2) is an emerging field that investigates how games can be used in L2 learning and pedagogy (L2LP), and yet a need of examining how game-mediated practices are defined still exists. The current study aims to review how researchers define and categorize GML2 practices through empirical and theoretical evidence. A total of 29 publications from 2010 to 2020 was analyzed, revealing the following findings: (1) about half of the publications defined GML2 practices while others explained game affordances in L2LP; (2) most empirical studies were aligned with Reinhardt and Sykes’ (2012;2014) GML2LP taxonomy, particularly in game-based L2LP. Future research should consider clarifying their GML2 practices as they reflect different ways of utilizing games in L2LP.

Authors

• Yuchan (Blanche) Gao, Arizona State University - Tempe

• Elisabeth R. Gee, Arizona State University