Can the students in an ESP course learn new vocabulary as they review and practice it by playing a computer game?

Abstract

This paper explores the use of a computer game to enhance second-language learner's knowledge of technical vocabulary in their field of study. The aim of the study is to prove that an effective educational tool for learning vocabulary does not necessarily have to present the target words in context or in a communicative way. This tool is not only innovative and entertaining but it also unquestionably reinforces the internalization of target lexical items by means of rote learning. The participants were eight fifth-year students of the Nursing major at the Universidad de Costa Rica in 2004 who were taking English for Nurses.