Learning with video games

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Nikolai
Topic Talker
Beiträge: 54
Registriert: 20. Nov 2013 20:10
Muttersprache: Deutsch

Learning with video games

Beitrag von Nikolai »

Hello everyone
I like to play video games. Does it make sense to improve English with playing video games in English?
Should I look up every word I don't understand?
Do you like video games, too?
Which are your favourite video games?
I'm a Nintendo fan and I like Zelda most of all.




tiorthan
Lingo Whiz
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Registriert: 13. Jun 2010 01:36
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Re: Learning with video games

Beitrag von tiorthan »

If you are trying to improve a language it makes sense to do the things you like in that language, meaning, just play the games in English it's a good practise. If you hope to improve your English through video games though, I wouldn't hope for too much there. Story games like "To the Moon" or RPGs with a lot of dialog and narrative like for example Dragon Age or Mass Effect are a good choice, yet books are still better because books have to "talk" even more, and the more the talk the better the training.


Should you look up every word? Absolutely not.

You should look up as few words as possible. For most people it makes more sense to look up just enough so that they get the gist of a sentence.
You're never too old to learn something stupid.
MistakeSuggestionYou sure that's right?

Nikolai
Topic Talker
Beiträge: 54
Registriert: 20. Nov 2013 20:10
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Re: Learning with video games

Beitrag von Nikolai »

I don't like to read a book. I only read specialist literature in physics. Therefore I didn't like English lessons in school, because you only read stories, which doesn't interest me. A novel for example is too boring for me.
So I thought I could play games in English instead of reading a book. I like Japano-RPGs especially and they often have a large story.

I have another question.
What do you think how long does it take to accomplish a B2-Level in English according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages?
That's my goal.

brian f
Slow Speller
Beiträge: 18
Registriert: 26. Nov 2013 16:38
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Re: Learning with video games

Beitrag von brian f »

Nikolai hat geschrieben:
I have another question.
What do you think how long does it take to accomplish a B2-Level in English according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages?
That's my goal.

I would say you have already achieved your goal quite comfortably.

Nikolai
Topic Talker
Beiträge: 54
Registriert: 20. Nov 2013 20:10
Muttersprache: Deutsch

Re: Learning with video games

Beitrag von Nikolai »

Are you sure?

For example I've huge problems to understand movies in English. Kids programms, simple comedy and so on isn't a problem, but I don't understand drama. The actors speak too fast and there are too many words I don't know. I have to grow up my vocabulary, I guess.

tiorthan
Lingo Whiz
Beiträge: 2815
Registriert: 13. Jun 2010 01:36
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Re: Learning with video games

Beitrag von tiorthan »

Nikolai hat geschrieben:Are you sure?

For example I've huge problems to understand movies in English. Kids programms, simple comedy and so on isn't a problem, but I don't understand drama. The actors speak too fast and there are too many words I don't know. I have to grow up my vocabulary, I guess.

Well, you are probably in the B level gropu. It's almost impossible to differentiate between B1 and B2 based on few forum posts (usually that requires a face-to-face conversation). But, being able to understand movies would mean to have fluent understanding of the language and general fluency is what defines the C level group of the reference framework.

Anyway, I mentioned novels because, since they are stories, they are closer to gaming than scientific articles. The point I was making is that reading is way more effective than watching a movie or playing a game becaus you are more focused on the language part of the activity. But if you do read articles on physics you could just read them in English.

As for the question how long it takes, there is no way to tell. It all depends on how often you use your English, how well-suited your learning materials are to your needs, and generally how important your brain feels this whole language learning thing is.
You're never too old to learn something stupid.
MistakeSuggestionYou sure that's right?

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