The Effectiveness of Digital Games on Learning English Vocabulary among Iranian High School Students

Vocabulary learning is essential for learning English because it is an essential part of language speech (Nation, ۲۰۰۱). Language learning is the factor that connects everyone's speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. To communicate better in a foreign language, students must learn enough vocabulary and know how to use them correctly. Language ability is often measured by the number of words a person knows. Therefore, learning/teaching vocabulary is a difficult area that deserves special attention. One of the methods that have recently attracted the attention of researchers in the field of second language learning is digital games. This study investigates the effect of digital games (especially Lingo game) on vocabulary learning by low-skilled Iranian users. In order to select homogeneous learners based on their English language skills, the Nelson Skills Standard Test was performed. According to the results, ۴۰ low-skilled English language learners were selected. These learners are in the age of ۱۲ to ۱۵ years, they studied English for about two years. Then, considering the purpose of this study, participants were randomly divided into two groups. Experimental group and control group. The pre-vocabulary test was taken of learners to help the researcher to understand the learners’ knowledge level of vocabulary before training. To achieve this goal, digital games (Lingo game) were performed in the experimental group for three weeks. Among them, control group learners, who have not received such training, were present in classes without games with a vocabulary of this kind. Then the post-test was performed after vocabulary training, by statistical analysis, the following result: Digital games have a great impact on learning English vocabulary in students with low language skills