Online Role Play Games and Second Language Learning

Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) are role-playing games that through the Internet can integrate thousands of players interacting at the same time in at least one virtual world. This way these games can provide besides fun a greater familiarity with the second language and opportunity to improve linguistic proficiency in a real context. Hence what is proposed in this study is extended knowledge about the learning of a second language mediated by MMORPGs. Based on a scientific study we seek to answer the following research questions: (a) what distinguishes the learning profile of gamers and non-gamers; (b) can MMORPGs through a hybrid and systematic approach assist the development of second language proficiency and (c) what do think-aloud protocols show about the learning mediated by the MMORPG Allods Online.