Can You Learn a Language by Playing Games?

Between playing at slots with Casino Canada online recommendations and video games, is there a way to make the time more educational? Perhaps games and learning a new language can go hand in hand?

Our author, Michelle Thomas, explores this concept and presents a perspective on learning language through games. She’s an expert in online gaming and knows all about the opportunities that it brings to us. You can view her profile here. 

Where to Start?

As with any new skill, learning languages may seem intimidating. However, it’s not as daunting nor as challenging as it sounds and can be a lot of fun. After a while, you might not even notice that your video game time adds to language and cognitive skills. 

You have to take the first step by applying yourself and trying one or combining the methods discussed below. 

Change Language Settings

One of the best places to start is with video game languages under settings. Whenever you’re playing, you’re engaging with the game. This is where you’re bound to find repetition in the wording on the screen and through voice-overs. A key aspect of learning a new skill is repetition, and that’s what you’ll encounter through gaming in different languages.

Switching the language settings forces you to learn and figure out the instructions. Most video games improve language skills and vocabulary because of the story element incorporated into most titles.

Online Communities

Virtually every game has an online community of players and streamers. Among them, you should find forums and groups in your chosen language. When you’re confident enough, engaging with them will take your skills to another level.

It presents the opportunity to interact and communicate with others who love the same game as you. You’ll likely make new friends who’ll be happy to help you learn the language. It’s a great way to combine fun and learning, as you’ll have the correct context for new words and phrases. 

The context is essential because it becomes more difficult to associate the words and phrases with real-life scenarios when studying through a book.

Online Multiplayer Games

Playing online multiplayer games isn’t far off from the online communities. Many gaming titles have a real-time multiplayer option where you can play with a teammate or as a member of a squad.

In games such as League of Legends or World of Warcraft, a key element in winning a map is communication between teammates. By joining a squad that speaks your target foreign language, you quickly learn and improve your skills because it’s crucial to your team’s success.

Role-Playing and Simulation

In both role-playing and simulation games, your character must move through a storyline or tasks to gain access to the next level. In both of these gaming genres, the only way to progress is by understanding the story and the assignments that you need to accomplish.

In titles such as Skyrim or SimCity, you can keep learning a language through the game. The more you play, the more you’ll know, and soon enough, you’ll be fluent.

Choose a Game Format You Prefer

Every game is designed differently and uses various balances of screen text and spoken words or voice-overs. Some are rich in the on-screen text; others have a more significant focus on verbal instructions and storytelling, and the rest combine the two.

Every gamer is also different, and your video game language level will get better over time. Our author recommends you choose the type you’re comfortable with or where you feel you need to improve. 

Both written and verbal communication have significant benefits and help take your language skills to a new level.

Language Games

There’s an emerging market of language learning games that find unique ways of merging games with language. They focus on the language instead of a game, but it’ll prove beneficial when using them in conjunction with video game languages.

Conclusion

There’s no doubt that video games improve language skills if you apply yourself. By using just some of these methods, you’ll be surprised at how soon you’ll be bilingual. 

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