Game-based learning (GBL), “learning through playing games”, is not a new phenomenon but something that emerged alongside the interaction of play. Be it humans, or other species in the animal kingdom, it is easy to observe that much of the earliest learning events are through play-interaction. Learning through play is an innate and universal language, following ubiquitous rules of competition, chance, role-play, and disorientation (Caillois, 1958). With the advancement of mobile technology, learning through play has found a flourishing platform, with seamlessly endless opportunities for GBL, to thrive. 

 

Living in the era of a globalized world, the ability to communicate in more than one language is a valuable asset. In many parts of the globe, the universal business language is English, as are most available scientific results and academic literature (Elaish, et al., 2018). This prompts many non-English speaking countries to pay great consideration to teach the English language (Kachru, 2006). Learning a second language is no easy feat and traditional education broadly excludes learners with obstacles of accessibility or lack of intrinsic motivation. Consequently, when a new technology can overcome traditional difficulties or can help improve the motivation and performance of learners, developers and users are quick to adopt it (Elaish, et al., 2018). 

 

Neuroscience studies show that learning happens more quickly when it is done in context. That’s partly why it is difficult to remember words from a textbook, they don’t have much meaning. In a virtual game, language learners discover words in context: characters, places, coins, objects, animals, and more, as they navigate the game objectives. One of the strengths of video games is that listening and reading practice are woven in. When the player is immersed in reading and listening to the dialogue they incidentally practice grammar rules, new words, and idioms (Lewis, R., 2021). In mobile language games, the learner is motivated to understand the input, since paying attention to the language will help them advance in the game (Holden, C.L. & Sykes, 2013).