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Language-related computer use: Focus on young L2 English learners in Sweden*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 January 2014

Pia Sundqvist  and
Liss Kerstin Sylvén
Pia Sundqvist
Affiliation:
Karlstad University, Sweden (email: pia.sundqvist@kau.se)
Liss Kerstin Sylvén
Affiliation:
University of Gothenburg, Sweden (email: lisskerstin.sylven@ped.gu.se)
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Abstract

This paper presents findings from a study investigating young English language learners (YELLs) in Sweden in 4th grade (N = 76, aged 10–11). Data were collected with the help of a questionnaire and a one-week language diary. The main purpose was to examine the learners’ L2 English language-related activities outside of school in general, and their use of computers and engagement in playing digital games in particular. A comparison is made between language-related activities in English, Swedish, and other languages. Another purpose was to see whether there is a relationship between playing digital games and (a) gender, (b) L1, (c) motivation for learning English, (d) self-assessed English ability, and (e) self-reported strategies for speaking English. In order to do so, the sample was divided into three digital game groups, (1) non-gamers, (2) moderate, and (3) frequent gamers (≥4 hours/week), based on diary data (using self-reported times for playing digital games in English). Results showed that YELLs are extensively involved in extramural English (EE) activities (M = 7.2 hrs/w). There are statistically significant gender differences, boys (11.5 hrs/w) and girls (5.1 hrs/w; p < .01), the reason being boys’ greater time investment in digital gaming and watching films. The girls, on the other hand, spent significantly more time on pastime language-related activities in Swedish (11.5 hrs/w) than the boys (8.0 hrs/w; p < .05), the reason being girls’ greater time investment in facebooking. Investigation of the digital game groups revealed that group (1) was predominantly female, (2) a mix, and (3) predominantly male. YELLs with an L1 other than Swedish were overrepresented in group (3). Motivation and self-assessed English ability were high across all groups. Finally, regarding the self-reported strategies, code-switching to one's L1 was more commonly reported by non- and moderate gamers than frequent gamers.

Keywords

Computer-assisted language learningcomputer gamesEnglish language learningself-reportESL studentsschoolchildren
Type
Research Article
Information
ReCALL , Volume 26 , Issue 1 , January 2014 , pp. 3 - 20
Copyright
Copyright © European Association for Computer Assisted Language Learning 2014 

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Footnotes

*

We would like to thank the Erik Wellander Foundation and the Center for Language and Literature in Education (CSL), Karlstad University, for funding our pilot study.

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