Research on the Effectiveness of Application of Tabletop Games in English Vocabulary Learning at Elementary School

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to explore the impact of "tabletop games integrated into English teaching" on the effectiveness of English vocabulary learning and learning attitudes of third-grade students. The research method used is the quasi-experiment. The subjects are two normal classes of students in the third grade of an elementary school in Tainan. They were divided into two groups, experimental group and control group. All of them were allowed to review the English vocabulary learned in the English classroom after school over the research period. The experimental group played tabletop games to review English vocabulary, and the control group used traditional writing and recitation method to review English vocabulary. The test tools include the English vocabulary tests before and after the experiment and feedback questionnaires. Statistical methods such as descriptive statistics, analysis of covariance, independent samples t-test, and paired samples t-test were used for data analysis. The research results included: (1) Both groups of students have made significant progress in "listening comprehension of English vocabulary”; (2) Both groups have made significant progress in "spelling" ability and the average progress the students in the experimental group have made was greater than the students in the control group did; (3) The students in the experimental group as a whole expressed a middle-to-high degree of satisfaction with "tabletop games integrated into English teaching" and have had a positive attitude to it. Finally, specific suggestions were made based on the research results for reference by teachers, schools, and education-related administrative units.