Hello! Welcome back 😀
In this weeks blog I will discuss the topic of learning a foreign language through games. Learning a language doesn’t always have to be so boring and tedious. (By the way its never boring!! ) Personally, playing games wouldn’t be my favorite method of acquiring a language but I can see the benefits.
Using games as a method of language learning just adds diversity in the classroom and sustains interest. Howard Gardner, claims that when a person is exploring a topic it should be reached in different ways to maximize the chances of reaching clarity. One of those ways is interactions which is obtained through technology aka. games. (Reference: Gardner.2006.p 142 https://skemman.is/bitstream/1946/6467/1/Sigridurdogg2010.pdf )
One of the benefits of using games for language learning is the wide variety of games that are there to choose from to suit personal preferences and learning styles. Also, this is very important as a learner of a language must have interest in order to enjoy acquiring a language without even noticing it. There is many other enriching benefits such as :
- Adventure games motivate and stimulate and language learners interest and curiosity to learn.
- Games provide a great opportunity to practice a language at any time.
- Some games provide interpersonal communication between the players.
While I was looking for language learning games, I came across FluentU. This was recommended on several websites which straight away caught my attention. After reading several reviews, I have to say its very impressing.
“While many videos come with subtitles, there was never an easy way to look up vocabulary words, or pause the video and make sure you really understood what was being said… that is until now. FluentU understands our pain, and picks up the pieces where all those other sites fall short. “
Jacob Gill, iLearnMandarin ( Reference: https://www.fluentu.com/en/)
There are over 1000 games available for language learners and of course not all of them are suitable, or at least they are not as good as others. For Example, The Sims is a virtual game in which the main aim is to stimulate he life of one or more virtual people. The Sims use their own made up language or communicate through signs and gestures, therefore its not beneficial as much as FluentU who can provide an L2 learner with excellent videos. The only way to learn a language, primarily English, through Sims is by reading the signs and following instructions which are displayed in English which may enhance grammar and vocabulary.
Click here, to embrace my padlet that I am very proud of, as before I was given this task I didn’t even know its possible to make one…
I hope you enjoyed this post..
Till next week xoxo
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