Hello and welcome back to module 3.
In module 3, the first thing that we are going to have a look at is language games.
A type of game that would help improve and help you learn a language which is not your
own.
Because let’s face it, the use of computer games and the use of gamification has really
revolutionised how it is possible to learn another language from a computer, from a game,
rather than from somebody who is a native speaker in that language.
There are lots of examples of language games out there.
Still the ones that are very popular are games for the Nintendo DS or the Nintendo 3DS, and
this is an example here of a game called My French Coach.
And what is really interesting about this game is that not only is it available in different
languages as you would expect, Japanese, Chinese and Spanish, but also this game itself is
very cheap to buy once you have got the handheld console, but it also gives you 150 language
lessons and these language lessons in some ways are quite personalised to you because
depending on how you get on with the content, it will recommend that you go back and repeat
a lesson or maybe that you skip some lessons.
The game itself also contains a full dictionary, for whichever is the languages that you are
studying, and because the Nintendo DS in this instance here has got a microphone and speakers
on it, it is possible for the device to speak the language to you and for you to repeat
the word, and then for it to match to see how you are getting on.
That is very important I guess in all languages but it is particularly important in languages
that are tonal, for example Chinese.
The interesting thing about using this kind of game in the classroom is that I have been
into classes where the classroom teacher is struggling to get the children in their class
to speak out loud so they can check the pronunciation.
And I have been back into the same class with the young people using the tablet computers
or Nintendo DS to learn a language in this way, and actually they were speaking very
clearly and very fluently into their games console.
Again, it come back to one of those principles I think of module 1 with this whole idea that
a game is competitive but it is also non-threatening.
The children are quite happy to speak to the games console and get that wrong but they
do not feel embarrassed by that, whereas speaking out in front of one of their peers sometimes
there is a bit of apprehension there, sometimes there is a bit of embarrassment.
Of course the secret of the classroom teacher is getting the children speaking comfortably
with the computer or the games console, and then being able to take that into the domain
with the real world.
Lots of examples of language games.
As you all know, apps are very popular these days, apps for computers but also apps for
tablets and for smartphones.
This is just a very quick screenshot here of some the language apps to teach you French
from the Android App Store.
The problem of course with apps is that some of them are very good, some of them might
not be as good as they could be, some of them are free, some of them you have to pay for,
so the important thing is go out and to test out these apps beforehand.
The other thing that you can do which works quite well when dealing with apps is to set
a homework task or a home learning task, get your students to go in, to explore different
language app each, and then to come back and to review it.
Then you can decide which one is the best and maybe use that with the class.
One very popular app I did want to mention was Duolingo and that is a free app which
is available, although there are some premium services that you can buy as well.
It is specifically for learning French in this case.
What makes it a good app is again there are lessons which are progressive, around basic
languages or phrases, and as you work your way through the early lessons, then it lets
you unlock other levels so that is quite gamified, to be able to speak French about animals,
food or verbs.
The exercises are interactive, they include video and pictures.
The young people that we have used this with have thoroughly enjoyed it although they would
not want to use it all the time.
Also, you are able to track your progress, not only as an individual but you can also
track it against other people that you are linked up with on social networking sites.
Language apps and language games have got massive potential in the classroom and massive
potential for independent learning at home as well.
If you are short for something to do, why don’t you pop over to the Windows 8 Store
or the Android Store or the iOS Store, and why don’t you see if you can find and discover
some good language apps that you might be able to use in your classroom.