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The use of digital technological resources for educational settings is a quite recent phenomenon (SAVI; ULBRICHT, 2008). Although recent research emphasizes the importance of integrating technology into the curriculum, its use can only be effective for learning if well integrated in a meaningful way in the classroom (PRENSKY, 2007; SQUIRE, 2006). This article aims to characterize vocabulary acquisition and the use of the digital game The Sims, and to investigate if and how it can assist vocabulary of English as a foreign language. Data collected involved participants of a public school setting in Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. The instruments used were a pre-test, a post-test, a delayed post-test, as well as a narrative writing. Results indicated The Sims as effective for vocabulary acquisition in EFL, since it deals with routine and familiar vocabulary and offers a new virtual life and contextual learning for players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researches in field of Education and Applied Linguistics emphasize the growth of studies on digital games in Brazil. On the other hand, the studies that approach how to teach based on digital games are limited and few explored. Thus, this work aims at presenting practical guidelines to support the development of complementary digital teaching material for language teaching. This paper reports a case study carried out at a public university, which involves undergraduate students from the Language Course. In this practice, we used and tested pedagogical stages to support the practice with games, which include: selection and analysis; the practical exploration of games; and the development of pedagogical activities. Results highlight the proposal acceptability by the participants because it provides pedagogical guidelines for future teachers to select and elaborate activities for language teaching with digital games. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]