Language learning from gaming

[ryandryu]

Considering your responses to my last question "English learning from cfc", many people seem to practice or learn English from their gameplay itself or interactions with others here. While reading your answers and other postings, my original question has developed to another level. How about other languages?

Although we communicate in English here, have you ever tried to learn other languages here or from gaming in another language? Was it successful? I saw many language exchange examples such as "German help needed" or "Chinese 101". Did they work? I think this place can provide many great opportunities to acquire or practice another language although they are restricted in written language. Can you share tell me your experiences or ideas?

 

[Godwynn]

I come here to get specific answers on German grammar questions I have. I don't think it would go over to well to learn a language from an internet forum.

 

[Virote_Considon]

English-speaking forums aren't good enough to learn a more refined language like French.

 

[Aquila SPQR]

I always install english versions of games if they are available on DVD and watch movies in English with subtitles when I watch them on DVD. In games like Mass Effect I always use subtitles. Today I understand spoken English very well unless people use more "unknown" words. I often watch BBC or CNN and translate news for my father. Sometimes I am even able to find errors in "official" translation

I have only trouble in writing, because English has one thing I really cannot understand - tenses In my language we have only three of them - past, present and future. But I believe that English speakers have no or little trouble understanding what I wanted to say.

So yes - games may be helpful in learning other languages but there's one thing - you have to play them a lot. And even then they won't help without further reading of books or communication with native speakers.

 

[civ_king]

Civ has turned me into a History Champion, and Pirates turned me into a Champion on the Caribbean, I knew more than my teacher on it

 

[ryandryu]

I come here to get specific answers on German grammar questions I have. I don't think it would go over to well to learn a language from an internet forum.

Hi Godwynn,
How can you address your questions on German grammar here???
Do you think grammar is more important to learn a language than to practice your writing in the language?
How do you think we can better learn second or foreign language using gaming?

 

[Smellincoffee]

I play GTA games with the German language option (interface, captions, etc) enabled because I'm a student in German. Alas, only GTA3 and Vice City have this handy feature.

I once had The Sims installed in Spanish. Figuring out which interactions were which was fun.

 

[Arwon]

I play Civ in Spanish except where mods don't support it, I also have Facebook and my phone in Spanish. I'm not sure it helps me keep it up that much, but it's a small way to have some language exposure every day.

 

[sophie]

I play all of my games/have facebook in spanish. It really helps

I also play an MMO in the game's French districts, meaning I interact with/in French, and have improving at least moderately in that language.

I learned so many cool words thanks to playing video games in spanish, such as escudo, espada, martillo, etc. (shield, sword, hammer)

 

[Godwynn]

I play all of my games/have facebook in spanish. It really helps

I also play an MMO in the game's French districts, meaning I interact with/in French, and have improving at least moderately in that language.

I learned so many cool words thanks to playing video games in spanish, such as escudo, espada, martillo, etc. (shield, sword, hammer)

Here is a cool German word for you: der Hammer

 

[Annex]

I learn Russian from this game
http://www.videlectrix.com/wheresanegg.html

 

[ryandryu]

@ Smellincoffee
@ Arwon
@ Owen Glyndwr

Coooooooooooooooooooool!

Do you think social networking services (SNSs) such as Facebook or Twitter can help you learn your target language as well?
How? Do you interact with native speakers of those languages, or just enjoy the interface of those SNSs in the target language? I'm curious.

Also, do you think any specific genre of games are more helpful in language learning? Which gene? Thanks in advance.

 

[Godwynn]

Hi Godwynn,
How can you address your questions on German grammar here???
Do you think grammar is more important to learn a language than to practice your writing in the language?
How do you think we can better learn second or foreign language using gaming?

For example Adjektivendungen [Adjective Endings]. I just ask which and why. Should it be "Gib dem guten Mann einen Fisch" [incorrect] or "Gib dem gutem Mann einen Fisch." [incorrect]. Since it is the dative case using a definite article, the ending is -en.

You need grammar to write in a language, otherwise it would just come out as nonsense!

I think gaming can be a useful tool for language learning, mostly vocabulary acquisition. Unless you are really dedicated (and you seem very dedicated to learning English) I would say an electronic mean of learning a language would be wasted on 90% of people.

Keep up the good work!

 

[Tani Coyote]

Just for craps and giggles, I often will switch games I'm playing into Spanish. Or at least get Spanish subtitles, and see how much I can understand. My understanding is often enhanced by the fact the game I usually do this with is SA2, and since I've memorised most of the English lines, I can understand the context of the Spanish lines far more easier.

By matching them all to English, my understanding improves enormously. I often decipher the literal meaning of each line, then line that up with the usual translation people give(You I eat, instead of I eat you, for instance). I do this because Sonic games unfortunately only have Japanese and English audio... ...Try Japanese voices with Spanish subtitles though. It's an epic mindscrew.

I have put Jak and Daxter games into Spanish though. ...Very interesting, to say the least. I understand a few words and snippets here and there, though I often need to turn on subtitles since I can read and write Spanish far better than I can understand it. (Hence why I always flip out on my cousin's boyfriend when he talks to his mom... my blood boils the longer his chipmunk-nese goes on; this same person talks about my hypocrisy of putting my games and such into Spanish despite talking so much crap about it... yeah, maybe I am a hypocrite. It's grand. )

 

[RebelYeller]

I tried learning spainish by changing civ 4's language settings from english to spanish. But then I forgot what much of the original english words were. Afterwards I found it easier to just use progams that are meant to teach spanish.

 

[ryandryu]

For example Adjektivendungen [Adjective Endings]. I just ask which and why. Should it be "Gib dem guten Mann einen Fisch" [incorrect] or "Gib dem gutem Mann einen Fisch." [incorrect]. Since it is the dative case using a definite article, the ending is -en.

You need grammar to write in a language, otherwise it would just come out as nonsense!

I think gaming can be a useful tool for language learning, mostly vocabulary acquisition. Unless you are really dedicated (and you seem very dedicated to learning English) I would say an electronic mean of learning a language would be wasted on 90% of people.


Keep up the good work!

Grammar seems to be learned from a book much easier and faster.

Have you ever talked with German speakers "in German" here, or have you been to postings like Deutsch 101 to practice your German?
I think language is better acquired from practices or uses than memorization of grammar or vocabulary. Don't you think so?

So, I'm interested in cfc, a beyond-game culture where language is acquired or learned through interactions with others.

Thanks for your encouragement!

 

[Tavenier]

When I was 14 and started playing Civ1 on my Amiga it had a major influence on my history and English lessons at school. I am terrible at learning languages, but thanks to video gaming (and in particular Civ) my English is relatively good.

And Civ also had a major impact on my career, because it heavily influenced my choice of study, namely history.