VocaMono: An Online Multiplayer English Vocabulary Learning Board Game

Abstract

It is imperative to construct a learning environment to make EFL (English as a Foreign Language) learners have an engaged vocabulary learning experience to enhance their learning interests. Recently, digital game-based learning suggests a new learning paradigm of learning by playing within visual and interesting environments. As a consequence, this study developed an online multiplayer English vocabulary learning board game, named VocaMono (short for Vocabulary Monopoly), for English vocabulary learning. Adapted from the famous games Monopoly, Unscramble, and Scrabble, this study developed VacaMono by effectively integrating the gameplay and pedagogy designs for vocabulary learning. VocaMono has been designed to have unique educational game characteristics that should be of interest to vocabulary learning. It enhances learners’ motivation for learning and memorizing English vocabulary. By playing this educational game, players’ are able to enhance their vocabulary acquisition abilities not only for correctly spelling taught vocabulary but also for discovering spelling patterns. This game can fit players’ vocabulary levels by selecting words from the word scope. Furthermore, this game is possible to be used to correspond to the class progresses.