Serious Games on Language Learning

Martin Sillaots 14.05.2013

siLang Summary

• Framework: Life Long Learning• Start: 1 Dec 2012• Finish: 30 Now 2014• Duration: 2 Y• Budget: ~ € 0.4 M• Partners: 6

siLang Partners

• UTH - University of Thessaly (Greece)• HCT - HiST Contract Research (Norway)• CERETETH - Centre for Research and Technology

Thessaly (Greece)• Università degli Studi “Guglielmo Marconi” (Italy)• TLU - Tallinn University (Estonia)• EWF - European Welding Federation (Portugal)

siLang Content

• Serious games on language learning• Used in army to train soldiers rapidly• Working language - vehicular language - bridge

language - lingua franca - third language• Cultural issues, non-native speakers, field of

engineering– e.g Greek use English in Spain - specific

pronunciation, cultural practices that affect communication, …

Who SaysVideogames don’t pay off in real life?

Motifake.com

siLang Goal

• Develop serious game for learning vehicular languages (lingua franca) in the work place (taking into account cultural aspects)

siLang Tasks

• Analyze current status of language learning• Develop sound game-based didactical framework• Technical implementation of the game• Learning activities• Validation of the game• Dissemination• Exploitation

siLang Concept Phase

• Game idea – learn language through workplace conversation– E.g. asking orders or guidelines

• Players' role - interact with environment– Read, listen, type

• Main gameplay mode – dialogue with NPC’s• Genre – adventure + puzzle• Target group –20 – 65 year old engineers • Platform - Desktop and tablets• Competition mode – single player, no competition• Game world - desktop• Selling point – funny scenarios

siLang Scenario Starting Points• Most common errors Estonians make in English

– Prepositions (in, on, …)– Articles (the, a)– Numbers (60, 16)– Gender (he, she)– Spelling (A, E, I, …)– Wrong words (aktuaalne – not actual not but current, …)

• Estonian Cultural aspects– Gesticulation– Eye contact– Personal Space– Starting the conversation– Greetings

More Information

si-lang.net

Game Over