Proof that playful learning works

[Ti0k0]

I'm currently in my last year of getting my Bachelor of Education and I have to write a thesis. The thing I want to write it about: Does playful learning create positive results when learning a foreign language?

As in, I'm in the English teacher programme, and I want theories that back up the idea that learning with help of games (think; Creationary, hangman etc.) is a better way to learn than conventional means (i.e. from a book; you get homework; study this word list or whatsoever).
I know there are a lot of people on this forum that already have a Bachelor or Master degree, and I figured maybe some of you have worked with this kind of research before (being gamers and all), so if anyone has any reliable sources (internet, books etc.), that would be great!

Also, there will be cake...

 

[SpiralDots]

I'm currently learning Hiragana using a game like space invaders where the invaders are the symbols and you have to type them correctly to destroy them.

It's the most effective way I've found of learning them as it's much more fun than just sitting there trying to memorise them.

Unfortunately I don't know any reliable sources but I have seen a few articles about this floating around (not specifically about games, but more about just making it more fun in general) so hopefully you'll be able to find a few.

 

[Ti0k0]

Thank you for your posts, I am using Krashen's theory in my reasearch!