EFL Learners' Implicit Theory of Intelligence and the Application of MMORPG in EFL Learning

Abstract

The present study aims to describe the application of Second Life (SL) to bring together EFL learners around the world and create a third place of learning. A group of 152 undergraduate students (n = 152) of colleges and universities in southern Taiwan were recruited for this experimental project for a period of two years. Within this two-year course they were investigated on their implicit theory of intelligence toward EFL learning. Among these 152 participants, 53 were randomly selected to be sponsored to take TOEIC four times to measure their English proficiency to establish multilevel growth model. Results of this study reported that SL did create positive effects to EFL learners' developing incremental intelligence which was also significantly correlated to their performance on TOEIC. Multilevel growth model proposed by the present study also examined the extent to which the time individual spent on socializing in English through SL can significantly improve EFL learners' performance on TOEIC.