Impact of playing video games on learning a language

Learning a foreign language can be a real challenge. In fact, any learning process involves constant determination, a well organised plan of action and a great deal of practice.

People willing to study and develop a tongue different from their native one are very likely to make use of a wide range of resources specially designed for that purpose, such as grammar books, audio files and, not surprisingly, language classes. Likewise, at the time of improving our mother tongue, there is a clear tendency to turn to written publications and audio-visual materials. Be that as it may, these methods have not always been proven to be fully effective to reach the desired results.

Therefore, is there any alternative way whereby we can expand our knowledge on this field? Could people still learn something setting aside the traditional procedures?

The answers to these questions may well be: Indeed. And I am referring mainly to technology; namely video games.

Few people would have seen eye to eye on this when the first video games invaded the homes of thousands of families. Kids would over indulge in this absorbing activity causing distraction that would negatively affect their studies. So, video games were untimely labelled as something detrimental. But that is just a thing of the past. Nowadays, it is widely known that some aspects such as healthy brain stimulation, development of problem-solving abilities and stress relief are among the benefits of playing video games for both children and adults.

There are, of course, many different types of games and all of them will provide, to a greater or lesser extent, some kind of knowledge. Thus, we can find action games for instance, in which we will basically perform repetitive exercises. They may help to provide development of reflexes and motor skills but not be good for accumulating knowledge. However, other video game genres like RPG (Role-Playing Game) or strategy games could test your skills to administrate resources, negotiate and evolve within the virtual world you are getting yourself into.

It is in this type of game in which you can take better advantage of learning or improving a language. Not only playing on your own, but also when taking part in an online game by interacting with other players. It will come almost naturally to acquire specific vocabulary while dealing with your resources for example. Reading and listening to conversations will be supported by visual information which will definitely help our brain to associate the use of certain expressions or words with a particular situation. What is more, if we are playing along with other people we must communicate with each other, so this is the perfect platform to put everything learned into practice.

Many people would be surprised to discover that thanks to video games, students of a foreign language are improving their skills at a rapid pace. Furthermore, in most of the cases they are able to remember words and expressions learnt in a video game and apply them to real life situations.

By and large and from my own experience, I believe that this form of recreation brings together many of the examples I mentioned above such as increasing specific vocabulary, using the language while you are solving problems, development of reading and listening and communication between team mates. Therefore, the impact of video games on learning a language or developing our native tongue is proving to be tremendously positive.