Digital games and English as a foreign language. Results from a pilot study

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine whether digital games can help in the teaching of English as a foreign language to primary school students. Fifth-grade students participated in the study, coming from three schools in Rhodes, Greece (20 students each). The first group was taught conventionally, in the second there was an emphasis on collaborative learning, and the third was taught exclusively using digital games. Data was collected by means of evaluation sheets and a questionnaire which recorded students' views regarding the games. The data analysis revealed that the learning outcomes from the use of games were the same as in the other methods. Also, the attitude of students towards them was very positive. The results lead to the need of examining ways that would allow digital games to be even more effective in the teaching of English as a foreign language.