EAL Instructors’ Attitudes towards Game-based Learning Adoption in Education: Opportunities

Abstract

The objective of the current study is to explore teachers’ attitudes towards game-based learning (GBL) as well as opportunities in English as additional language (EAL) context. The study used a survey and interview to collect data. The survey data was gathered from eight university EAL teachers. Four of the survey respondents voluntarily participated in interviews to explore the opportunities of using GBL. The quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and the qualitative data was analyzed through thematic analysis and description. The findings of the survey data revealed that the factors of usefulness, attitude, and social influence contribute to the use of GBL. As a result of the interview data analysis, three themes associated with the opportunities of GBL emerged namely, communication, fun learning, and motivation. The implication of the study is that teachers acknowledge the benefits of GBL but they need support for further professional development.