Learning a language can be fun sometimes through playing game. Indeed, game is one of the friendly approaches to language learning.
Study shows that the golden age for children to acquire new languages is before age 10, so if you introduce them to a new language, it is more likely that they would be fluent in that language.
As a result, many parents tend to take this opportunity by teaching new languages to their children through learning platforms, including games. Besides, child-friendly games are pretty easy to find nowadays.
So, how exactly do games become an effective way of learning language? What are the benefits of learning language through games? Let’s check it out!
Learn new vocabulary
While playing games, especially online games, sometimes you might find words that you are not familiar with. Well, that is actually good news because you will be tempted to know the meaning. Understanding the meaning also helps you to make decision in the game. Either you can open your dictionary or rely on Google to find the answer. This way, you instantly acquire new vocabulary from the game. Exciting, isn’t it?
Make new friends
Many online games now offer a multiplayer feature which enables its user to make new friends out of the game and build solid teamwork. It is even better if you play video games with other players from different countries. Let’s say, you are currently playing game with the worldwide server, and you are interested in making new friends with Australian players. Aside from getting new friends, you will get to learn to interact with them using their language. This is a great chance to enhance your language skill by practicing it in real-life cases.
Last but not least, it’s stress-free!
Unlike learning language from textbooks which may cause stress or even confusion for those who don’t enjoy reading books, playing games, on the other hand, can reduce stress. After all, games are built to be fun and addicting. Learning language through games is definitely worth trying since it involves both learning and having fun. That being said, you will not easily get bored due to the fascinating challenges that keep you engaged.
Here are several game recommendations you can try by yourself or with your friends:
RPG (Role-playing Games)
Many RPGs or role-playing games are story-rich, which are designed to create a more adventurous experience for the player. This kind of game mainly focuses on the narrative, so the player would get the full experience of the story. It can be played either single-player or multi-player. Multiplayer mode allows you to work with other players to solve the puzzle while also learning language through communication. What makes a role-playing game so captivating and unique is the customization of the character, the moral decision-making, the NPCs, the quest lines, and of course, the storyline. In the world of RPG, you will be faced with a lot of challenges that require strategies in order to overcome them. The gameplay can be either rewarding or frustrating for the player, but that is what makes this game addicting to play. Role-playing games also have their own genres, such as horror, sci-fi, adventure, fantasy, and many more.
Simulation Video Game
As the name itself suggests, a simulation video game offers a simulation of activities, particularly real-world ones. Depending on the genre, this type of game accentuates and varies in its choices. It lets you take control of the character, and you are provided with choices that can affect the gameplay. For example, if you are playing a life simulation video game, you can decide what kind of house you want to live in, who you want to date, or what activities you want to do regularly. These choices as well as the consequences are made as realistic as possible since the main objective is to demonstrate a real-life simulation experience for the player. Overall, this is such an exciting approach in learning language as the game is mainly interactive.
Hangman
Who doesn’t know this old-school favorite? All you need to do is guess any letter that can form a word or phrase. Then, each time you guess the letter incorrectly, the other player will draw a stick figure of a man hanging. When the full body is completely drawn, you lose. This game is a perfect icebreaker for the class, as students are mostly enthusiastic about word games. Hangman helps you improve your vocabulary and spelling in an exciting way. Moreover, this game is also available online, so there is no excuse not to try it!
Scrabble
This one is also an old-time, classic word game that is available on the online platform as well as the board game, containing two to four players. Just like any other crossword game, Scrabble involves strategic thinking and creativity to create words. This is another fun approach to language learning as it expands your vocabulary through playing game. Each player is given alphabets which contain points, and their job is to form words out of them. Bonus points will be added if they place the letter in the premium squares. Take turns with other players, and the one who gets the highest points becomes the winner. Quite simple, right?
So, have you tried any of the games mentioned above? If yes, it means you’re one step ahead. If you haven’t, then it’s time for you to give it a try.
Did You Know?
Besides playing game, you can also learn languages through an online learning platform, such as LingoTalk. It offers 10 language courses (English, Korean, French, Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish, German, Arabic, Indonesian, and Thai) along with affordable prices, experienced tutors, and flexible schedules.
Head over to our website now for more information and insightful articles!
