Dia dhaoibh a chairde! 

Can playing games help us learn? And if so can they help us acquire a second language? This is the topic I’ll be exploring today! As a “non-gamer” this is a tricky topic to wrap my head around so bear with me, okay? 

 

 

 

Firstly, let’s quickly define the type of games I will be talking about:

Serious games: “unites the seriousness of thought and problems that require it with the experimental and emotional freedom of active play” (Abt., 1970, p. 11) 

When I think of educational video games my brain immediately jumps to Brain training and the like. Those games that were intentionally and solely made for the purpose of learning (it’s literally in the name). After a little more thought I think of games with slightly subtler learning curves and objectives, NintenDogs for example or even Tamagotchis (what an absolute throwback). 

However you might be wondering whether games with subtler intent such as these really have an effect on the development of those who play them. A study in 2007 showed that virtual pets played a unique role in this realm of virtual learning:

“the inherent characteristics of a companion transform an interaction into a relationship and evoke an emotional investment” (Chesney et al. 2007, p. 1926)

When it comes to language learning games, again we have those with more obvious intent and the more discrete. I have a couple of apps downloaded which technically fall under the CALL bracket (Quizlet, Der, Die, Das app, Etc.) however the way they are set up allows you to interact with them as though you were playing a game (matching definitions to one another, filling in blanks, etc.). This provides great entertainment for the part of my brain that needs bright colors and.. well, to be entertained, which allows the other part of my brain to concentrate on learning some delicious vocab. These are great to do in your spare time, while on the loo (is that gross? Idk.), on the bus, or even while procrastinating doing actual study (Learning while procrastinating.. I like ittt).

However academics have gone beyond language learning apps so far as to claim that MMORPGs  (that’s “massively multiplayer online role playing games” to use noobs) among other formats create an ideal environment for language learning and “a real-world system in its own right’’ (Crookall & Oxford, 1990: 18) For the most part MMORPGs create friendly and responsive learning environments that are less threatening or intimidating than perhaps a classroom would be. They fully immerse the player in the language and world, providing students with the opportunity:

“to practice, develop and test their emergent communicative abilities. […] and constitutes authentic dialogue between native and non-native language speakers.”
(Y. Rankin et. al, 2006, p. 2)

Moreover this ‘natural’ (for use of a better word) setting provides for more genuine discussion and acquisition of more practical vocab, phrases and the like, with immediate feedback and correction available if you so wish. For more info on DGBLL (Digital Game Based Language Learning) check out my padlet!

Right I’m off to play Fornite with some Germans.. I mean.. Study for my Mündliche Prüfung!

Feicfidh mé sibh,

Saoirse x

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References:

Abt., C. C., 1970. Serious Games. 1st ed. New York: Viking Press .

Chesney, S. W. L. a. T., 2007. The impact of owner age on companionship with virtual pets, St. Gallen: Switzerland.

Crookall, R. O. D., 1990. Vocabulary Learning: A Critical Analysis of Techniques. TESL CANADA JOURNAL, 7(2), pp. 1-22.

Rankin, R. G. B. G., 2006. 3D Role-Playing Games as Language Learning Tools. EUROGRAPHICS, 25(3), pp. 1-6.