From Duolingo to World of Warcraft: Adding Fun to the Language Learning Process with Different Game Genres
Video games have become an integral and extensively studied aspect of modern culture, particularly their potential as educational tools (Li, 2019) and language learning is one area where video games have demonstrated significant benefits (Atma et al., 2020). Various genres of video games, including role-playing games (RPGs), first-person shooters (FPS), adventure games, and massive multiplayer online games (MMOs), provide diverse opportunities for acquiring language skills to varying degrees.
The positive effect of playing video games on learning and/or practicing languages can be attributed to several factors. First, video games are inherently engaging and interactive, which can help maintain learners’ motivation and interest (ibid.). Second, video games often offer authentic and immersive contexts for language use, allowing learners to practice their language skills in realistic situations (Li, 2019). Finally, video games can facilitate incidental learning, as players may acquire new vocabulary and grammar structures while focusing on gameplay rather than explicit language instruction (Rudis & Poštić, 2018).
In this article, I will first explore how gamification helps the learning process through an example of language learning apps that implement such techniques. Then, I will focus on how the potential of providing a language learning environment varies among different game genres and I will look at how going online affects the experience. Before concluding, I will also write about an idea on how to make playing games more immersive while increasing their language learning potential.
Combining playing and education into productive fun
Why is it that gamification elements, such as achievements, rewards, leaderboards, and progress tracking, can enhance language learning experiences? These elements motivate learners by providing a sense of accomplishment, fostering friendly competition, and offering tangible goals to work towards. By incorporating these techniques into language learning platforms, mobile apps can create engaging and effective learning environments that satisfy diverse learners’ needs and preferences (Zhang & Hasim, 2023).
Several game-based learning platforms, such as Duolingo, Memrise, and Babbel, have implemented gamification techniques to engage users and improve learning outcomes. Duolingo, for example, uses a combination of rewards, streaks, and leaderboards to encourage users to practice regularly and compete with their friends (García Botero et al., 2018). Users earn experience points (XP) for completing lessons and can level up by accumulating XP. Duolingo also features a streak system, which tracks the number of consecutive days a user has practiced, and leaderboards that allow users to compare their progress with friends and other learners.
Memrise, on the other hand, focuses on spaced repetition and mnemonic techniques to help users memorize vocabulary (Fazly et al., 2016). Users are presented with new words and phrases, along with images or mnemonic devices to aid in memorization. Memrise then uses an algorithm to determine the optimal time for users to review the material, ensuring that they retain the information in their long-term memory. The platform also incorporates gamification elements, such as points, badges, and leaderboards, to motivate users and track their progress.
Babbel emphasizes practical conversation skills and offers personalized learning paths (Nushi & Eqbali, 2018). Users can choose from a variety of paid courses tailored to their interests and goals, such as travel, business, or culture. Babbel also incorporates gamification elements, such as progress tracking and rewards, to keep users engaged and motivated, but unlike Duolingo and Memrise, which offer free access to their platforms, Babbel requires a subscription fee.
Overall, gamified language learning approaches have been shown to be effective in engaging learners and improving language acquisition. Research has demonstrated that gamification can increase motivation, enhance learner engagement, and lead to better learning outcomes (Hamari et al., 2014). However, language learning apps may provide limited context and fail to simulate real-world language use, which can hinder learners’ ability to apply their language skills in authentic situations (Sung et al., 2015), Duolingo may not offer sufficient opportunities for learners to practice speaking and listening skills, which are essential for effective communication (Kukulska-Hulme et al., 2015) and Memrise primarily focuses on vocabulary acquisition, which may leave learners with gaps in their understanding of grammar rules (Bozkurt et al., 2017), which is where video games can step in.
Having explored how language learning apps employ gamification techniques, let me now compare that to how video games, which were (in most cases) not primarily designed for educational purposes, allow for language learning experiences. Each genre presents its players with unique opportunities for language acquisition. In the following section, I will discuss the learning potential of different video game genres, such as RPGs, FPS, adventure games, and more, highlighting how various elements in these games support language learning.
Different genres — different opportunities
Despite language acquisition being a mere byproduct of playing games, as they were primarily created for amusement, video games still offer many opportunities for players to learn and practice along the way, though it is important to note that the effectiveness of language learning in different video game genres varies and depends on factors such as immersion, in-game interaction with language, overall amount of language content, and the type of gameplay (Newcombe & Brick, 2017).
RPGs (The Elder Scrolls, The Witcher, or Final Fantasy), for a start, often feature rich narratives, dialogues, and in-game quests that can expose players to new vocabulary and possibly grammar structures. Players are often required to interact with non-player characters (NPCs) to gather information, complete quests, or make decisions that affect the game’s outcome. These interactions can provide valuable opportunities for language practice, as players must read and comprehend dialogues, formulate responses, and make choices based on their understanding of the game’s narrative. Subtitles and language options can further enhance language learning in RPGs by allowing players to practice listening and reading skills simultaneously. By playing the game in their target language, players can immerse themselves in the language and become more familiar with its sounds, rhythms, and structures (ibid.; Li, 2019). Additionally, the use of subtitles can help players associate spoken words with their written counterparts, reinforcing their vocabulary and reading skills (Newcombe & Brick, 2017).
In contrast, FPS games (Far Cry, Dishonored, or BioShock) may offer fewer opportunities for language learning due to their focus on action and fast-paced gameplay, where players may nevertheless need to read mission objectives or listen to instructions from NPCs. While the language used in FPS games may be more limited than in RPGs, it can still help players become familiar with specific vocabulary and phrases related to the game’s context and because of that it could be more suitable for beginner learners.
Adventure games (Legend of Zelda, Hogwarts Legacy or Resident Evil), with their emphasis on exploration and problem-solving, can also contribute to language learning by requiring players to read and understand sometimes complex instructions or clues. Players may need to decipher riddles, follow directions, or interpret symbols to progress through the game, which can help develop reading comprehension and critical thinking skills (Chuang et al., 2021). Even if some adventure games would demand paying attention to mostly just graphic-based information, which minimizes contact with written or spoken language, content knowledge could still be consumed unconsciously (Pereira, 2017).
Simulation games, such as The Sims series and OpenTTD, can also contribute to language learning by motivating players into interacting with unknown vocabulary in a specific context (Jensen, 2017). In The Sims, players control virtual characters and manage their daily lives, including their relationships, careers, and hobbies. The game’s interface, dialogues, and in-game text are available in multiple languages, allowing players to practice their reading and comprehension skills. OpenTTD, a transportation management simulation game, requires players to read and understand complex instructions, economic data, and other information related to the game’s mechanics, which is what helped me to start learning English when I was younger. Due to the nature of simulation games which replicate real-world situations in virtual environments (Newcombe & Brick, 2017), I would recommend such games to beginner language learners, as the context of the game and in-game vocabulary connected to it might be easier to understand when compared to the alien worlds of fantasy RPGs, for example.
Real-time strategy (RTS) games, such as Warcraft or Age of Empires, involve managing resources, building structures, and commanding units to achieve specific objectives. These games often require players to read and comprehend in-game text, such as mission briefings, unit descriptions, and tooltips, which can help develop their reading skills. As misunderstanding the sometimes complicated in-game instructions would lead to failure, I would recommend such games to advanced learners, even though making mistakes greatly helps the acquisition process (Pereira, 2017).
Learning and practicing online together
The online element of multiplayer games, such as multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBAs) or massive multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), adds an extra layer to the games’ impact on language acquisition and communication skills (Albaqami, 2022).
MOBAs (such as League of Legends or Dota) are team-based games where players control individual characters and work together to achieve objectives, such as destroying the enemy’s base or capturing strategic points on the map. Communication is crucial in MOBAs, as players must coordinate their actions, share information, and adapt their strategies based on the evolving game state. This real-time, authentic communication can help learners develop their speaking and listening skills in their target language, as they must convey their ideas and understand their teammates’ input quickly and effectively, as these games also require quick reflexes and strategic thinking, (Rudis & Poštić, 2018).
MMORPGs (such as World of Warcraft, Guild Wars, or Lineage), on the other hand, combine elements of RPGs and multiplayer online games, offering immersive worlds where players can interact with both NPCs and other players. These games often feature complex narratives, quests, and in-game events that require players to read, listen, and communicate in their target language. MMORPGs also encourage social interaction, as players can join guilds, participate in group activities, and engage in trade or diplomacy with other players. This social aspect of MMORPGs can provide valuable opportunities for language practice, as players must communicate with others in their target language to coordinate strategies, negotiate alliances, or simply socialize in an entertaining and natural environment (ibid.; Li, 2019). While playing online undoubtedly augments the learning potential of any game genre (such as in the case of the online FPS games Call of Duty and Counter Strike), I believe that it is MMORPGs that might be the ideal game genre for learning and practicing, as they combine the RPG worlds full of language content and the social aspect of MMOs, which boosts the language learning potential (Albaqami, 2022). Additionally, popular video games often have a strong online community, where players can find guides, forums, and other resources in their target language, further enhancing their language learning experience (Atma et al., 2020) and there is also research showing that gaming relieves players of the stress otherwise present when practicing in real-world situations and enhances their motivation (Albaqami, 2022).
However, there are potential challenges to learning through multiplayer gaming, such as the prevalence of slang, abbreviations, and informal language. Players may encounter language that is not typically used in formal educational settings, which can make it difficult to transfer their in-game language skills to other contexts (Atma et al., 2020). Not knowing the language at a high enough level to comprehend what is happening in the game to a satisfying extent could also hinder the enjoyment of learning and playing at the same time. Though if the player chooses their game adequately to one’s level in the target language and bears in mind that not all of the vocabulary learned in-game might be useful in everyday situations, video games will provide a pleasant learning experience, which could be taken to another level with the idea presented in the next section.
An extra step towards immersion
In the future, speech recognition technology could be integrated into video games to create even more engaging language learning experiences. For example, players would need to learn specific phrases or formulas to cast spells or communicate with characters from different continents. This innovative approach could revolutionize language learning by combining the engaging nature of video games with cutting-edge technology.
By requiring players to speak their target language to interact with the game, speech recognition technology could also help develop speaking and listening skills in a natural and authentic context. Players could practice pronunciation, intonation, and fluency while receiving immediate feedback from the game, allowing them to refine their language skills in real-time. Altogether, the use of speech recognition technology would create a more immersive gaming experience, where players would have to actively engage with the game’s world and characters using their language skills (Chen et al., 2022).
In conclusion, video games that, unlike language learning apps, were not originally designed for education, still offer diverse opportunities for language skill acquisition with their various genres. RPGs, for example, with their rich narratives and dialogues, can provide immersive language learning experiences, while online multiplayer games further enrich the learning experience by fostering real-time communication and social interaction. MMORPGs that put together both the active and passive aspects might seem like the best “combo”, but individual interest and preferences together with personal level of the target language might also play a role while deciding which game to choose. Future integration of speech recognition technology could revolutionize language learning through gaming, creating even more immersive and interactive experiences. By harnessing the power of video games, learners can transform their language learning journey into an enjoyable and effective process.
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