Social Media and Gaming: Social Psychological Contributions to English Language Acquisition in Pupils in Compulsory Lower Secondary School Education.

Bc. Daniel Mark Sargeant

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

This thesis examines the impact of social media and gaming, through the lens of social psychological theories, on English language acquisition among lower secondary school pupils. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study integrates quantitative data from surveys and qualitative insights from focus group interviews to explore how modern platforms facilitate language learning outside the traditional classroom setting. The findings reveal that engagement with gaming and social media platforms contributes well to overall communicative fluency in English as a Foreign Language. The key theoretical frameworks include Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory and Krashen's Theory of Second Language Acquisition and provide an understanding of the social processes attributed to Language acquisition. Along with grounded theoretical framework in identity, investment, and motivation. This research also develops the educational potential of integrating social media and gaming into language learning to support the development of English as a foreign language through solid reflective practices proposed by B.N Pierce.

Keywords

English, Language, Acquisition,, Identity,, Investment,, Motivation,, Lower, Secondary, School, Pupils,, Mixed-Methods, Approach,, Communicative, Fluency,, Sociocultural, Theory,, Social, Media,, Gaming,, Reflective, Practices

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 22. 4. 2024

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 19. 6. 2024
• Supervisor: doc. Mgr. Světlana Hanušová, Ph.D.
• Reader: Mgr. Eva Minaříková, Ph.D.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Education

Bachelor programme / field:
English Language for Education / English Language for Education