Children and gaming: how do they help themselves learn English?

Abstract This study explores the video gaming habits of twenty-eight avid gamers aged 9–14 years old who played in English from Chile, China, Hungary, and India. Using participatory interviews, we examined the language learning strategies these child gamers used to navigate the challenges of playing in English. Findings revealed that the children were highly motivated to improve their gameplay, and their English language developed naturally as a by-product of that desire to improve. Children combined cognitive, social, affective, and motivational language learning strategies to build their English language skills, displaying impressive levels of self-regulated learning. This study concludes by suggesting that teachers can harness children’s intrinsic motivation for video gaming by integrating elements of their gaming worlds into the classroom. The study aims to contribute to the field by offering insights into how informal digital activities can enhance English language teaching to young learners.