The effects of a digital simulation game on vocabulary development of EFL students

Simulation games offer a highly engaging and enjoyable environment for players, which might be useful for language learning in that they can provide learners with frequent exposure to authentic and contextualized input embedded into a digital learning platform. In the present study, a game titled The Sims 4 was selected to investigate the possible effects of a single-player COTS digital simulation game on incidental vocabulary acquisition of ELF learners in an informal learning setting. Data were collected from 30 university students at the intermediate-level of English that were selected through convenient sampling. The participants played the game in line with weekly task-based assignments for four weeks. Pre-tests, immediate post-tests, and delayed post-tests were administered to assess their passive recognition and active recall of target vocabulary. Moreover, a pre-treatment survey, gameplay reflections, and follow-up interviews were utilized to explore the participants' perceptions towards the elements of the study before, during, and after the treatment. Findings from the tests showed that the participants significantly improved their passive recognition of the target words and retained this knowledge while there was no significant improvement in active recall. The data from the survey, reflections, and interviews uncovered some common themes regarding the participant experiences and provided insights into their attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors.