Video Games as opportunity for informal English languade learning: theoretical considerations

Abstract

Playing video games is one of the most common leisure activities in current days worldwide (STANLEY and MAWER, 2008). Nevertheless, this article seeks to discuss how video games may contribute to informal English language learning. For that purpose, I use Halliday’s (2003) theorizations on the seven functions of the language for children as well as Jenkins’ (2006) concept of participatory culture. This article also draws on examples from existing literature in the field (e. g. REINDERS and WATTANA, 2011; RYU, 2013), debating how video games may promote learning in general, in addition to the development of receptive and expressive skills in the English language.