Amparo García-Carbonell

Simulation/gaming and the acquisition of communicative competence in another language

For more than three decades, researchers and practitioners in the field of English as a foreign language have faced the issue of communicative competence as a goal in language acquisition and how to reach this goal. In this article, the authors address the issue from the point of view of a theoretical and practical meshing of simulation and gaming methodology with theories of foreign language acquisition, including task-based learning, interaction, and comprehensible input, showing how simulation and gaming can be used in those phases of language acquisition in which formal instruction has proved less ineffectual. The objective of this article is to describe the close relationship between the acquisition of foreign language competence and its components and experiential learning through simulation and gaming, with specific reference to two experiments in this area.

Simulation and gaming: old philosophy, new in Spain

This article attempts to draw parallels between knowledge acquisition in ancient philosophy and knowledge acquisition in simulation and gaming. At the same time, it highlights the fact that Spain is still a young country in the use of the methodology, although it is beginning to have significant empirical experience and research in the field.

Simulation and Gaming in Virtual Language Learning Literacy

The CoMoViWo project, financed by the European Union’s Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), aims to improve the employability of graduates and professionals by developing literacy training for virtual communication. The innovative aspect of this project is the fusion of communication, technology, and multiculturality in association with business enterprises. The present study centers on detecting the specific needs for virtual communication and mobility in the workplace by means of a descriptive analysis studying work context of 102 employees using virtual communication and a qualitative analysis based on the opinions of nine linguists, experts in the field of simulation and gaming, which brings to the foreground characteristics that games or simulations should provide, as well as the importance of effective virtual debriefing, if used in online literacy. After the fieldwork is carried out, the results obtained provide the necessary feedback for orienting the materials designers to take into account the multiple applications of simulation and gaming. The development of a series of intensive modules for improving foreign language use in virtual and mobile contexts in the workplace is the ultimate objective of the present project.