Playing or Listening: Students' Belief in Making Use of Genshin Impact for Learning

Abstract

This study examines EFL players' beliefs regarding using the Genshin Impact video game to enhance their English listening skills. Listening is a crucial, yet often overlooked skill in language learning, particularly in acquiring foreign languages. Challenges in listening comprehension include poor-quality materials, cultural differences, accents, unfamiliar vocabulary, and fast speech. To improve, students need more practice and exposure to the target language through teacher-led activities or independent learning. Digital resources can aid in this process, and studies suggest that video games can enhance English learning by offering engaging content. Through narrative inquiry, this study focuses on the participants' experiences with Genshin Impact as a tool for listening practice. Participants were selected from a preliminary study to identify players who utilized Genshin Impact for this purpose. An interview, guided by the Beliefs About Language Learning Inventory (BALLI), was employed to assess the students’ beliefs. The participants' experiences are analyzed within the categories of aptitudes, challenges of language learning, and learning and communication strategies. The current study's findings suggest that participants hold positive beliefs about using Genshin Impact for English listening practice. They express strong motivation and acknowledge that the game enhances their listening skills. The study also reveals that participants have developed their preferred strategies for practicing English listening through Genshin Impact. These findings can serve as valuable resources for educators, encouraging learners to engage with media beyond the formal classroom to improve their English language skills in a more enjoyable and less stressful manner.