The Impact of Online Gaming on English Language Acquisition in Primary School Students in Bosnia and Herzegovina

This study examines the impact of exposure to English language (EL)-based games on Bosnian elementary school students' knowledge and understanding of gaming abbreviations. The research indicates that playing games in English generally enhances students' familiarity with gaming abbreviations, particularly in their original English forms. However, students exhibit less consistency in translating and comprehending these terms in Bosnian, suggesting potential areas for additional educational support. Gender dynamics are also explored, revealing that while both boys and girls engage extensively with EL-based games, boys show a slight advantage in recognizing and understanding gaming abbreviations. These findings underscore the effectiveness of EL-based games in certain aspects of language learning while highlighting the need for further research and targeted educational interventions. The study advocates for a balanced approach to evaluating language learning through gaming, considering both the original English forms and their Bosnian translations to better support students' language proficiency in diverse contexts.