Why Playing Games Helps You Learn English Faster

“Can’t you do something useful? Don’t you think you’re wasting your time?” Have you heard these arguments against games before? It seems this is not the case. Games provide a useful and meaningful context for language use; encourage students to interact and communicate; can both challenge and reduce anxiety (as the emphasis is on the message not the form); provide practise in all four skills; and help students to make and sustain the significant effort involved in learning a language.

What is important to remember, though, is that not all games are created equal. There are games that are only for entertainment - playing Candy Crush is not going to teach you much English except for ‘Loading’, ‘Sweet!’ and ‘Level 534’. But we are not discussing these games. There are hundreds of excellent story-based games out there that include a lot of useful language.

Games Help Improve Linguistic Skills and Cognitive Development

So how do English learning games, or even video games, help students improve their linguistic skills and cognitive development? The key is practice, practice, and more practice!

It is no wonder reading quickly and accurately in another language is challenging - around 10% of people struggle to learn reading skills in their first language. A team of researchers from the University of Padua were inspired by this fact to see whether games could help children who have difficulty reading. The findings were fascinating: nine sessions of playing video games for 80 minutes a day improved the children’s reading ability more than a year of traditional learning methods. Of course, games have to contain enough text to make them worth playing. But if you choose the right kind of game, imagine how quickly your reading skills could improve.

And the same happens with listening, for example. The days of text-based games are behind us. Games nowadays are often voiced so, if there is voice, your listening skills will improve at a remarkable rate.

You never develop one language skill in isolation. Becoming a better reader makes you a better writer because you develop an instinct for what looks right; becoming a better listener makes you a better speaker because you hear natural pronunciation. Both reading and listening to English can expand your vocabulary and grammar. If you need to turn on the subtitles, don’t feel embarrassed – many native speakers do the same so they don’t miss any essential information, and reading while listening will help you absorb more language. Games require the integration of several linguistic skills including reading, listening, speaking, and even writing in some games. And by removing the fear of making mistakes so common in students in traditional classroom settings, students are free to practice the language and further develop their linguistic and cognitive abilities in the process.

Learning Games Provide In-Context Learning

Students naturally learn faster and comprehend more when they are forced to use the information often and in real-world situations, even the fake ones created by English learning games. Essentially, this is immersion-based learning or contextual learning very similar to what one experiences when living abroad and being forced to interact with people in another language. So, by providing both context and constant feedback, games allow students to actually use the knowledge they gain in classrooms or conventional study to learn and master English faster.

English Learning Games Make Studying Fun and Alleviate Stress

Most people associate language learning with endless lists of vocabulary, sitting at a desk for hours, and tests that make your blood pressure go through the roof. Homework, quizzes, tests, and even in-class assignments can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety in students, particularly those who may be struggling to keep up. This stress and anxiety can actually derail a student’s progress and cause them to feel isolated from their more successful peers.

But learning does not need to be done that way. You will want to learn more often and for longer if learning is enjoyable. You will never put off playing a game because it is fun, but you will hear and read so much useful vocabulary in context.

Games could make language lessons less threatening for less confident pupils as their concern about getting form wrong was reduced and so their production greater. But most learning games are the great equalizer because they help alleviate stress, increase social engagement, and yes, even help students have fun while learning English. Spend an hour a day gaming and you will start to notice your English improving.

Through games, students can learn a variety of important skills.

Evidence seems to indicate that there are countless skills that students can develop through game playing such as critical thinking skills, creativity, teamwork, negotiation skills, and good sportsmanship. Students can form a greater variety of emotional connections with language through playing games, e.g. acting out a word or seeing another student do so, or remembering a clue for a word.

These examples do seem to indicate that using gaming to support learning in the classroom is not a waste of time. When you get the right mix of gaming and learning, it develops a student’s autonomous learning skills and encourages them to spend more time on task – both of which have a big impact on learner outcomes. So, why do not give it a try?

Bibliography:

https://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/reasons-to-play-games-in-the-classroom.shtml

https://www.english.com/blog/gaming-research/

https://www.londonschool.com/blog/how-playing-video-games-can-help-you-learn-english