Edutainment: A Study Of Game-based English Learning And Teaching In Middle Schools In Lanzhou

In recent years, the use of educational games in language learning and teaching attracted attention of the public. A sharp increase in the number of academic studies around this field has greatly expanded our understanding of its potential in foreign language classrooms. Game is instinctive demand of human beings and the primary teaching pattern. Therefore, learning cannot be effective without motivation. During the process of child's growth, game is an important part in education. However, the traditional and partial examination-oriented education system always occupies a leading position in China, gradually ignoring the important function of game in children's education. Now, the development and application of educational games in classrooms revert to its original enjoyment of education, they fit for the development of child's nature. In order to stimulate students'interest and motivation, cultivate autonomous learning ability, improve English learning outcomes, develop English classroom teaching and change traditional teacher-centered teaching method, this thesis deeply researches the application of educational game-The Forgotten World in EFL classrooms in middle schools in Lanzhou.On the basis of a review and study on the researches of educational games in foreign language learning and teaching and the relevant theories, this thesis, taking the perspective of educational game-The Forgotten World applied to EFL classrooms, poses three research questions, 1) What are the students'attitudes toward the use of educational game-The Forgotten World? 2) Does The Forgotten World have positive effect on students'English learning outcomes? 3) Can teachers'involvement in game-based project contribute to facilitating teacher professional development? Through data collection of questionnaires, interviews and classroom observation, the analysis of pretest and posttest, this thesis investigates the application of educational game-The Forgotten World in EFL classrooms in middle schools in Lanzhou according to students'attitude, students'English learning outcomes and teacher professional development.The whole study lasted for one term. The subjects were middle school students of Grade 8. The total number of experimental class is 133 students and 147 students in control class. All the tables and statistics are done by means of SPSS 17.0 for windows. This thesis tries to reveal that as a means of making learning fun, educational games which integrate entertains with educates can fit for the content knowledge of middle school, influence students'language acquisition, promote successful language learning. Also, it can improve teacher professional development and change their teaching concept and pedagogy.The results and analysis of questionnaires, interviews and classroom observation reveal that students have positive attitude toward the application of educational game in English class, their learning interest and autonomous learning ability are improved to some extent; the data of pretest and posttest indicates that students'English scores in experimental class are higher than students in control class, it confirms that educational game-The Forgotten World has positive effect on students'English learning outcomes. The results and analysis of teachers'questionnaires and interviews reveal that teachers'involvement in game-based teaching can contribute to facilitating teacher professional development. These findings verify the feasibility of educational game in EFL classrooms in middle schools in Lanzhou.This thesis confirms that game-based teaching method has a profound effect on English learning and teaching. Teachers need introduce this teaching method into English classrooms in order to accelerate the integration of information technology and EFL classrooms, stimulate students'learning interest, cultivate autonomous learning ability, improve students'learning outcomes and help teachers to gain professional development.