Authentic Computer Simulation Games And Vocabulary Learning: An Exploratory Case Study
Abstract
This research aims to investigate how authentic computer simulation games as
online informal learning could help English language learners to build her vocabulary
mastery. How authentic computer simulation games as online informal learning could
help English language learners to build her vocabulary mastery. This research used
that implemented the theory by Norman Denzin (1989); there are four steps in types
of triangulations to analyzing the data using a case study, they are: (1) data
triangulation, (2) investigator triangulation, (3) theory triangulation, and (4) method
triangulation. The data were collected through a 30-day diary and some other
documents such as photos or video that documented the process of the researcher in
playing The Sims game. During my 30-days vocabulary learning journey, I created
three characters in The Sims. From these three characters, it feels like I have developed
my vocabulary learning through several vocabulary learning phases such as: 1) Find
and pay attention to some new vocabulary. For an hour, I played The Sims with
attention to new vocabulary in The Sims game. After noticing some new vocabulary,
I began to find new vocabulary in various notifications on The Sims game. 2) Get
acquainted with other characters in The Sims. When playing this game, my character
gets acquainted with other characters to have a chat. From getting acquainted with
other characters, I can find and pay attention to some new vocabulary in their
notifications. 3) Pay attention to other characters by using the correct type of
expression when my character is chatting with other characters. 4) I try to pay attention
to the characters invited to chat, such as happy expressions, sending, angry, etc.
Learning the context of the conversation, when I play The Sims game, I pay attention
to the context in the conversation or learn the context of the conversation so that we
can find new vocabulary. 5) Reusing expressions from other characters, when my sims
character doesn't like the talk of other characters, my character will reuse expressions
from other characters. For example, he doesn't like their jokes. 6) However, if my sims
character doesn't like their topic, my character and the other characters would continue
the communication and eventually enjoy the interaction with them. The results of this study implied that there are a lot of benefits for students who would learn English by
using simulation games especially to learn new vocabularies.