The Introduction of Tabletop Role-Playing Game Principles into English Language Teaching

Čibej, Primož (author), Sokolov, Cvetka (mentor)

The trend of gamification holds a lot of potential for English language teaching and education in general. Given the variety of games available on the market today, it is imperative to consider each game genre separately for what it can offer to a particular class. This paper focuses on the genre of tabletop role-playing games and how the ELT classroom could profit from using their principles. The introduction of tabletop role playing games can positively impact on all four language skills, but the benefits stretch beyond this to sociolinguistic competence and promotion of a more relaxed atmosphere in the classroom. These positive aspects create a space which promotes learner-centeredness by motivating students to engage with the lesson through play. The paper also addresses the possible pitfalls of implementing tabletop role playing game principles and provides options for overcoming possible obstacles. Additionally, two observation studies are presented that show how the introduction of tabletop role-playing game principles can positively impact on the teaching and learning of English, one conducted in an after-school club and one in a class of university students of English. The former showcases how the environment shaped by tabletop role-playing games fosters the use of the target language. The latter provides us with insights into how students in an actual classroom respond to an activity which incorporates tabletop role-playing game principles. Both research studies support tabletop role playing games as positive additions to the arsenal of English language teaching activities.

• Language: English
• Keywords: gamification, tabletop games, learner-centeredness, motivation, sociolinguistic competence
• Work type: Master's thesis/paper
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts
• Year: 2021
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-128653
• COBISS.SI-ID: 71263747
• Publication date in RUL: 22.07.2021

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Vpeljava principov namiznih iger vlog v pouk angleščine

Abstract

Trend igrifikacije predstavlja velik potencial za pouk angleškega jezika kakor tudi izobraževanja na splošno. Glede na raznolikost iger, ki so nam na razpolago, je treba za vsak žanr iger posebej ugotoviti, kaj bi lahko v določenem izobraževalnem kontekstu doprinesel k pouku. Magistrsko delo se posveča žanru namiznih iger vlog in prikaže koristi, ki jih prinaša pri pouku angleškega jezika. Vpeljava namiznih iger vlog ima pozitiven vpliv na vse štiri jezikovne spretnosti, ki presega sociolingvistično kompetenco; vzpostavlja okolje, v katerem se učenci počutijo sproščeni in tako zagotavlja pouk, ki se osredotoča na učence in jih motivira k sodelovanju pri uri angleškega jezika. Magistrsko delo povzame tudi težave pri vpeljavi principov namiznih iger vlog in ponudi možne rešitve. Empirični del vsebuje dve opazovali raziskavi, ki osvetljujeta pozitivni vpliv, ki ga ima vpeljava principov namiznih iger vlog pri pouku angleščine. Prva je potekala v sklopu šolskega krožka, druga pa pri uri na magistrskem študiju angleščine. Prva raziskava je pokazala, da namizne igre vlog vzpodbujajo uporabo ciljnega jezika. Druga raziskava je zgled pozitivenga odziva študentov na dejavnost z elementi namiznih iger vlog. Obe raziskavi podpirata vpeljavo namiznih iger vlog v pouk angleškega jezika kot pozitivne dopolnilne dejavnosti za poučevanje angleškega jezika.

• Keywords: igrifikacija, namizne igre, v učenca usmerjen pouk, motivacija, sociolingvistična kompetenca