Aviation-Oriented Gaming and Second-Language Acquisition

Abstract

Teachers have a plethora of online materials available to make their lessons more effective. This paper examines the effects of using digital media, in particular aviation-focused gaming, in assisting students in second-language acquisition. It considers the fact that the traditional roles of teachers are being partially transformed, and that many gaming sites preferred in the Czech Republic are in English. Part of the paper´s conclusions derive from observations and recordings made during English language lessons, involving various groups of ten to twenty-five students studying transport engineering at a Czech technical university. These conclusions are derived from the implementation of a game focused mostly on air traffic control simulation, and on observations which look at how students are learning from each other. Also to a lesser degree this paper investigates how airport management and airport maintenance gaming and simulations can help practice and improve student decision-making and enhance cognitive abilities