This review examines the second language acquisition (SLA) literature with regard to the role of “massively multiplayer online games” (MMOGs) in second language (L2) learning. It focuses on commercially developed off-the-shelf (COTS) MMOGs only (some of them modified for educational purposes such as Reinders’ & Wattana’s work). It surveys the current empirical research to find out which aspects of L2 learning have been investigated, how they were studied, and what the findings suggest in relation to L2 learning opportunities and outcomes within and beyond MMOG contexts. We synthesized the findings of 31 studies reporting empirical evidence about the role of MMOGs in L2 learning. We observed that the empirical research in this area is mainly qualitative and that L2-related motivational and affective factors, L2 vocabulary, and learners’ communicative competence (or discourse management strategies) are the most widely investigated topics. Based on the findings, our paper presents a model that depicts hypothetical interrelationships among (a) MMOG designed settings, (b) the social and affective affordances provided in these settings, (c) L2 learning opportunities, and (d) the L2 learning outcomes achieved. We conclude that MMOGs provide socially supportive and emotionally safe (i.e. low-language-anxiety) environments that afford multiple opportunities for L2 learning and socialization, which, in turn, help L2 learners to enrich their L2 vocabulary repertoire and enhance their communicative competence in the target language.

中文翻译：

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大型多人在线游戏背景下的第二语言学习：范围审查

本综述研究了关于“大型多人在线游戏”（MMOG）在第二语言（L2）学习中的作用的第二语言习得（SLA）文献。它仅关注商业开发的现成 (COTS) MMOG（其中一些为教育目的而修改，例如 Reinders 和 Wattana 的作品）。它调查了当前的实证研究，以找出已经研究了 L2 学习的哪些方面，如何研究它们，以及研究结果表明与 MMOG 上下文内外的 L2 学习机会和结果有关的内容。我们综合了 31 项研究的结果，这些研究报告了关于 MMOG 在 L2 学习中的作用的经验证据。我们观察到这方面的实证研究主要是定性的，二语相关的动机和情感因素、二语词汇、学习者的交际能力（或话语管理策略）是研究最广泛的话题。基于这些发现，我们的论文提出了一个模型，该模型描述了（a）MMOG 设计环境、（b）这些环境中提供的社会和情感可供性、（c）二语学习机会和（d）二语学习成果之间的假设相互关系达到。我们的结论是，MMOG 提供了社会支持和情感安全（即低语言焦虑）的环境，为二语学习和社交提供了多种机会，这反过来又帮助二语学习者丰富他们的二语词汇库并提高他们在语言中的交际能力。目标语言。我们的论文提出了一个模型，该模型描述了（a）MMOG 设计的环境、（b）这些环境中提供的社会和情感可供性、（c）二语学习机会和（d）所获得的二语学习成果之间的假设相互关系。我们的结论是，MMOG 提供了社会支持和情感安全（即低语言焦虑）的环境，为二语学习和社交提供了多种机会，这反过来又帮助二语学习者丰富他们的二语词汇库并提高他们在语言中的交际能力。目标语言。我们的论文提出了一个模型，该模型描述了（a）MMOG 设计的环境、（b）这些环境中提供的社会和情感可供性、（c）二语学习机会和（d）所获得的二语学习成果之间的假设相互关系。我们的结论是，MMOG 提供了社会支持和情感安全（即低语言焦虑）的环境，为二语学习和社交提供了多种机会，这反过来又帮助二语学习者丰富他们的二语词汇库并提高他们在语言中的交际能力。目标语言。