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.