The impact of the card game Magic:The Gathering on L2 learning in public schools in Natal/RN
Magic: The Gathering; L2 teaching-learning; game-based learning.
This dissertation reports a study that investigates the impact of the trading card game Magic: The Gathering on the learning of English as a second language (L2) among 8th-graders from public schools in Natal/RN. The study involved 76 students, aged between 13 and 15 years old, evenly divided into experimental and control groups. The research employed a task-based learning framework to explore the effectiveness of game-based learning in enhancing L2 proficiency, specifically in reading comprehension and the processing of conditional sentences, as well as in motivation levels in English language learning. A series of pre-tests and post-tests were implemented to measure improvements in language skills and motivation levels. The findings suggest that integrating the card game into L2 learning can significantly enhance the processing of conditional sentences and increase motivation levels in L2 learning, making it a promising pedagogical tool. This study contributes to the field of Applied Linguistics and Psycholinguistics by providing empirical support for the educational use of strategic card games in language learning environments.