Using Stardew Valley to Enhance EFL Reading Skills in Vocational Education

Muhammad Syafiq; Titi Rokhayati; Sri Widodo

doi:10.51276/edu.v7i3.1790

Authors

Muhammad Syafiq Univesitas Muhammadiyah Purworejo
Titi Rokhayati Universitas Muhammadiyah Purworejo
Sri Widodo Universitas Muhammadiyah Purworejo

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51276/edu.v7i3.1790

Keywords:

Commercial Video Games , Digital Game-Based Learning , EFL Reading Comprehension , Stardew Valley , Vocational Education

Abstract

Reading comprehension remains a major challenge for Indonesian vocational students learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL), partly because conventional instruction often fails to promote engagement. This study investigated the effectiveness of Stardew Valley, a commercial farming simulation game, as an authentic digital learning medium to improve EFL reading comprehension. A pre-experimental one-group pretest–posttest design was employed involving 36 tenth-grade vocational students. Participants completed a pretest, engaged in a structured 50-minute gameplay session emphasizing dialogue, quest instructions, and contextual reading tasks, and then completed a posttest. Reading comprehension was measured using a validated 25-item multiple-choice test. The findings revealed that the mean score increased from 55.00 to 66.94. A paired-samples t-test indicated a statistically significant improvement, t(35) = 9.580, p < 0.001, with a large practical effect (Cohen’s d = 1.597). These findings demonstrate that integrating commercial digital games into EFL instruction can effectively enhance reading comprehension while fostering greater learner engagement in vocational education.

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Author Biographies

Muhammad Syafiq, Univesitas Muhammadiyah Purworejo

He Was Born in Ciamis, Indonesia, on June 18, 2003. He is an Undergraduate Student in the English Education Study Program at Universitas Muhammadiyah Purworejo. His Research Interests Include Game-based Language Learning, English Language Teaching, Digital Learning, and EFL Reading Comprehension.

Titi Rokhayati, Universitas Muhammadiyah Purworejo

She is a Lecturer at the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Muhammadiyah Purworejo, Teaching in the English Education Undergraduate and Master’s Programs. Her Research Interests Include English Language Education, Language Teaching and Culture, Cross-cultural Understanding, and Academic Publications.

Sri Widodo, Universitas Muhammadiyah Purworejo

He was born in Semarang on May 28, 1973, He is a Faculty Member at the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Muhammadiyah Purworejo. Holding B.A. And M.Hum. Degrees, His Interests Focus on English Language Education, Curriculum Development, and Academic Activities.

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