Be it to be able to travel to specific foreign lands or to simply have a proper conversation with a loved one, people everywhere are keen to learn a new language. From French and German to Spanish and Chinese, learning a new language is a valuable skill for both personal and professional growth. For example, it can even lead to increased job opportunities, but it is always a wonderful feeling to immerse yourself in a new language before heading off to a new country, even if it’s just the basics.
In general, people these days seem to be more open to other cultures. Gone are the days when traveling was restricted, and people would barely leave their homelands. Additionally, people are watching Korean cinema and learning about their culture; they are spinning new slot games based on Mexican culture like Chilli Master and experiencing Irish music to explore Celtic rhythms. The world is smaller than ever before in terms of experiencing different cultures, and language is another key to unlocking those experiences.
As such, with people becoming increasingly interested in alternative cultures to their own, the next natural step is to learn the language of the nation they’re falling in love with. Alongside using apps like Duolingo and reading books from a foreign land, people are playing games in an attempt to make language learning more fun and enjoyable. It can certainly help get you abreast of a few phrases before you go, and there are some games that are more than suitable here. Let’s take a look at some of them below.
Simon Says
The French call Simon Says “Jacques a Dit,” and almost every nation on earth has some kind of variant of what is, on paper, a kids’ game, but which is a brilliant option for learning other languages. What makes Simon Says perfect for, say, learning French or Spanish is that it reinforces action verbs: Simon says touch your nose – Simon dit touchez votre nez. It’s a really good game for learning basic structures. It’s fun, too, if we are honest.
Charades
Charades challenges people to use their face and body so their fellow players can guess what they’re trying to say. Some people opt for a movie or a television show, while others go for a book or a documentary. Essentially, there are no rules here. In order to add a language learning aspect to your next charades gaming session, though, consider adapting the game so you can only use the language you’re attempting to master, particularly for the people who are guessing. It will force you to build up your vocabulary and become more confident speaking the language.
Bingo
Instead of playing a game of bingo with numbers being the main focus, you can switch them out for words from the language you’re desperate to know. The cards you play with can feature different words that might come in handy, be it French animal words or certain Spanish foods. An entertaining way to encourage some language learning, bingo is a fantastic option that can be easily adapted for an educational experience.
Name that item
A simple but highly effective game to play, name that item tasks players with having to figure out the foreign word for a specific picture they’re being shown. For instance, you might have to name a spade in French, a sandwich in German, or a bird in English. For people with a photographic memory, name that item is a helpful way to get to grips with a new language.
Watch subtitles
While this next option isn’t a game as such, watching a movie with subtitles is another superb way to learn a new language. You can also turn it into a game, with players being able to go into their movie binge with a selection of words written down. Then, when a detective says their word or a lover’s dispute results in their word being shouted out loud, you can tick them off the list and keep on watching.
Ending with another popular game for language learners to consider, the matching game involves players creating boxes containing a selection of words and their English translations beside them. Then, from there, players have to simply match the words with the phrases. The more matches they’re achieving, the better they’re clearly getting.
