Marina Koutsis
Learning English as a child was not my favourite activity as I saw it as invasive and unnecessary. I did not know anyone who was anglophone and thus could not imagine how English would become useful to me. Nevertheless, my parents and the education system compelled me to learn it. As a result, I was very resistant and put little effort into my English classes. This vision changed when I started playing World of Warcraft; a multiplayer online role-playing game in English. I initially managed to get by with my limited knowledge of English, but kept wondering if there was a French version of the game that I could play instead. I had always been aware of strong English influences around Québec which I perceived as negative and contrary to my francophone roots.
However, little by little, I started learning more words and I understood that the English language was not inherently bad. Instead, learning a new language opened up so many other possibilities for me, such as being fully immersed in media, from video games to films, in their original language and being able to communicate with other players. My resistance to English had to do with external dominating forces that threatened my first language, that is French, but it did not mean that learning a language could not be inherently good. Playing a video game enhanced my understanding of language learning and improved my skills in English. The game presented me with new vocabulary that was not only game-related but also included words that could be used in everyday life. As proposed by the International Center for Language Studies (2021), video games can complement the traditional methods used in language learning whilst promoting increased engagement and motivation in learners (https://www.icls.edu/video-games-help-people-to- learn-a-new-language/). In other words, gaming is an entertaining way of practising the challenging endeavour that is language learning, which was my experience.
The following image displays a typical game Quest. The writing is usually formal and integrates both game-related and everyday vocabulary words. Usually, quest descriptions contain important information about location. This meant that I had no choice but to read these descriptions in order to complete the tasks. These helped to enhance my understanding of and my reading skills in English. It also encouraged me to look up new words, thus broadening my vocabulary.
Video games offer unique opportunities to build knowledge and to build the confidence to interact with others, thus developing language skills in a motivating and entertaining way. Playing a video game allowed for my language learning to become a positive experience, rather than something that was forced upon me in school. Instead of remaining opposed to language learning, I now value linguistic development and am proud of understanding five languages. However, I have done so without forgetting my culture and whilst still being aware of the linguistic inequalities that persist in many communities around the world. I am glad to have had the opportunity to learn English in the most motivating and entertaining way, through a game that contributed to my love for languages and I hope that other Quebeckers have the opportunity to appreciate English as I do.
Has anyone else experienced language learning in an entertaining way?
Reference
ICLS: International Center for Language Studies. (2021). Video games help people to learn a new language. ICLS. https://www.icls.edu/video-games-help-people-to-learn-a-new-language/
Hello Marina!
I completely agree with you on this point. The incorporation of “gaming” into ESL can be fantastic!
I also believe that children learn languages in this manner, and that it is even used in more similar situations.
I appreciate your depiction of various learning tools for this concept. As a result, I consider them as the future trends in ESL.
Di Niu
Hi Marina,
Great post! It’s true that video games can boost your level of language comprehension quite a bit. When I was in Japan I invested in a Nintendo and bought some games that helped me study characters, polite language, English-Japanese translation, classical Japanese, and poetry. Overall, I think it helped me a lot. I found it fun and easy to to follow – less boring than textbooks, most importantly 🙂
Sometimes I think that playing Nintendo and watching anime helped me master Japanese a lot faster than Korean. In Korea, I did an immersion program of sorts, but never played computer games or watched kid movies… Despite the fact, that the Korean program was a lot more intensive than any Japanese classes I ever took formally, I still feel that my Japanese is more natural than my Korean. Perhaps, I should thank my nintendo for that :)))
Sam Lyn
Hi Marina,
Great idea! I began to learn English at 6 years old, and French at 12 years old. I didn’t like my English and French classes at school, because the classes were boring. My teachers were old-fashioned and driven. They let students to repeat the grammar rules and words over and over again without any interaction. They believe that reciting is the most important learning method, and our goal is to pass the standardized tests. These made me feel frustrated and began to dislike French and English.
However, I enjoyed my English class at Sunday schools because teachers usually played games with us and combined education with entertainment to improve our English skills. Also, they told us some anecdotes, used diverse teaching methods, and made the class much more interactive and interesting. These experiences reignited my passion towards French and English.
I would say that entertainment, creativity, and interaction are very important for language teaching, especially for children’s language teaching. An interesting learning or teaching method may influence children’s lifelong idea towards language.
Hi Marina!
As a League of Legend player, I also believe that gaming can improve language competencies. Strategy games like the one you mentioned involve lots of readings and interactions with others which can encourage language acquisition. However, each game comes with a different culture, and some can be very toxic. Even though these players get penalized or ban, many gamers have experienced harassment from others. Thus, multiplayer games come with many advantages but also its own set of challenges.
Catherine Shieh