How video games help language learning

Charlotte Guest
Two people playing video games on the sofa together
Reading time: 6 minutes

The evolution of video games and global connectivity

Video games have come a long way since their inception in the late 20th century. From the simple pixelated screens of 'Pong' and 'Space Invaders', we've entered an era where video games are complex, immersive and incredibly detailed. The evolution of video games has not only been technological but also cultural.

With the rise of the internet and online gaming, players from different corners of the world can now connect, collaborate and compete in real-time. This global connectivity has transformed video games into a social platform, where language barriers are often encountered and interestingly, overcome.

Language learning and video games
Play
Privacy and cookies

By watching, you agree ɫèAV can share your viewership data for marketing and analytics for one year, revocable by deleting your cookies.

The role of video games in language learning

The traditional methods of language learning—textbooks, classroom instruction and language labs—are being complemented by more interactive and engaging tools. Video games have emerged as a surprisingly effective medium for language acquisition. The immersive nature of video games, combined with their interactive elements, makes them an excellent tool for learning new languages. Here are a few ways in which video games facilitate language learning:

Contextual learning: Unlike traditional methods that often rely on rote memorization, video games provide contextual learning. Players are immersed in a virtual world where they must use language to navigate, solve problems and interact with other characters or players.

Motivation and engagement: The gamified nature of video games keeps players motivated and engaged. The desire to progress in the game encourages players to learn and understand the language used within the game.

Real-time communication: Many online multiplayer games require real-time communication with other players. This necessitates the use of language skills, often in a second language, to coordinate actions and strategies.

Increased outlets for multilingual communication

One of the most significant impacts of video games on global communication is the sheer number of outlets they provide for interacting with speakers of different languages. In the past, opportunities for language practice were often limited to classroom settings, travel, or pen-pal programs. Today, video games have dramatically expanded these opportunities, creating a vibrant, multilingual community where language learning can thrive.

Online multiplayer platforms

Online multiplayer platforms like Xbox Live, PlayStation Network and Steam host millions of players from around the world. These platforms facilitate communication through voice chat, text messaging and in-game interactions.

Games like Fortnite, Overwatch and League of Legends have massive international player bases, meaning that players are frequently paired with teammates or opponents who speak different languages. This constant exposure to diverse linguistic environments encourages players to practice and improve their language skills.

Social media integration

Many video games now integrate with social media platforms, allowing players to share their experiences, form communities and communicate outside of the game. Platforms like Discord, Reddit and various game-specific forums provide additional spaces for multilingual interaction.

These communities often include language-specific channels where players can seek help, share tips, or simply chat in their target language, further enhancing their learning experience.

Esports and streaming

The rise of esports and game streaming has also contributed to the multilingual communication landscape. Professional gamers and streamers often interact with a global audience, providing commentary, tutorials and live interactions in multiple languages. Platforms like Twitch and YouTube Gaming enable viewers to engage with content creators and fellow viewers in real-time.

An example of communication in team-based games

One example of language learning through video games is found in team-based games like 'Sea of Thieves'. This is a multiplayer pirate adventure game that relies heavily on teamwork and communication.

In 'Sea of Thieves' players take on the roles of pirates sailing the high seas, searching for treasure and battling other pirate crews. The game requires players to work together to sail their ship, manage supplies and engage in combat. Effective communication is crucial for success.

Imagine a scenario where a team of players from different linguistic backgrounds must work together to sail their ship. One player speaks Spanish, another speaks English and a third speaks French. To navigate effectively, they must communicate instructions such as "raise the anchor," "lower the sails," or "fire the cannons." This situation creates a natural and urgent need for language skills, pushing players to learn and use new vocabulary in real-time.

Another aspect is the potential for negotiation and diplomacy. When encountering another pirate ship, players may have the option to negotiate rather than engage in combat. This requires players to communicate clearly and effectively, often in a language that is not their first. Phrases like "Let's form an alliance," "We come in peace," or "Do you need supplies?" become essential tools for survival and success.

The benefits of language learning through video games

One of the most compelling reasons why language learning in video games can be more enjoyable and effective is the practical need to communicate clearly and efficiently. Unlike traditional learning environments where the practical application of language skills can sometimes feel abstract or distant, video games provide immediate, tangible reasons to use a new language.

In team-based games, clear communication often directly correlates with success. A well-coordinated team that can effectively communicate is more likely to win than a team that struggles with language barriers. This creates a strong incentive for players to learn and use the language of their teammates.

A team that can communicate clearly will be able to execute complex maneuvers, coordinate attacks and manage more effectively than a team that cannot. This practical, real-world application of language skills makes learning more engaging and rewarding. Players are not just learning for the sake of learning; they are learning to win, to achieve goals and to enjoy the game more fully.

The benefits of learning languages through video games extend beyond the virtual world. Here are a few key advantages:

Improved listening and speaking skills: Real-time communication in multiplayer games enhances listening and speaking skills, as players must quickly understand and respond to their teammates. that MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games) can significantly improve listening and speaking abilities in a second language.

Cultural awareness: Playing with individuals from different countries exposes players to various cultures and dialects, fostering a sense of global awareness and empathy. can serve as rich sites for intercultural communication and learning.

Problem-solving and critical thinking: The need to solve problems and strategize in a foreign language enhances cognitive skills, making players more adept at thinking on their feet. , where players develop problem-solving skills within meaningful contexts.

Increased vocabulary and grammar: Regular interaction in a second language helps players build their vocabulary and understand grammatical structures in a practical context. The interactive and immersive nature of Ìýfor vocabulary acquisition and grammatical development.

The future of language learning and video games

As video games continue to evolve and become even more integrated into our daily lives, their potential as tools for language learning will only grow. The interactive and immersive nature of video games makes them an ideal platform for acquiring new languages in a fun and engaging way.

Certain games demonstrate how real-time communication and teamwork can break down language barriers, fostering a sense of global connectivity and cooperation.

Read our blog posts 'Why learning a language is better than using machine translation' and 'Games and puzzles to level up language learning'.

More blogs from ɫèAV

  • Students in uniform sat at tables in a classroom with a teacher at the front talking to them all.

    Bridging the gap: How to equip English learners with workplace-ready language skills

    By Samantha Ball
    Reading time: 5 minutes

    Educators worldwide are faced with a vital challenge: closing the language education gap between traditional schooling and the practical language requirements of the modern workplace. With English established as the language of international business and in light of our ground-breaking new research, the need for education to address this disparity has never been more critical.

    In this blog post, we'll explore why teaching English through a lens of real-world application is necessary, what our research shows about the current gap in language education, and some ideas for how English teachers can integrate employability-focused lessons into their own English teaching curriculum.

  • A group of business people talking together

    Future of global workforce decoded: A ɫèAV and People Matters study

    By Samantha Ball
    Reading time: 5 minutes

    Companies today face a renewed skills challenge. One that goes beyond the traditional skilling agenda that helps employees keep up with the ever-evolving nature of technology. But rather one that prioritizes soft skills and seeks to leverage the right tools and modalities to address change.

    The ɫèAV and People Matt­ers study, Future of Global Workforce Decoded, echoes the growing importance of having the right skilling pedagogies in place to build communication and collaboration within globally distributed teams. Download the full report here or keep reading this summary.

    The study surveyed around 70 business and talent leaders across India to assess how they see the future of global workforces evolve and unpacked trends on how companies are driving productivity.

    The new skilling agenda: communication and collaboration

    The ɫèAV Power Skills report contextualized this need for skilling by identifying communication and collaboration as pivotal soft skills required to build a capable workforce across India and APAC. For companies hoping to accelerate growth through a productive global workforce, the need for developing these soft skills rises exponentially.

    For around 56% of leaders interviewed, the right learning certification and skill building programs enabled them to improve business performance. This was closely followed by creating the right employee experience and increasing inclusivity.

    The rise of skilling and certification needs echoes a business concern common to companies with global workforces: to accelerate growth and leverage post-pandemic consumer behavior shifts to build more profitable business processes. Focusing on building communication and collaboration is central to this.

    Previous studies noted that communication and collaboration remained vital soft skills for companies across APAC to develop. And with good reason. With its impact felt across different aspects of an employee's journey, the focus on building communication and collaboration is imperative.

    Around 60% of companies reported that communication and collaboration helped them:

    • Improve employee performance
    • Increase engagement levels
    • Increase cross-functional work
    • Improve retention

    Building the right skilling pedagogies

    When it comes to top talent challenges among global workforces, the lack of communication and collaboration as an essential part of teams remains an important challenge. Over 45% of companies today state this as a pivotal barrier. Another 47% of companies stated the difficulty in reskilling remains concerning.

    The solution: new, more relevant learning pedagogies that address the skilling needs.

    The right pedagogies also help raise performance and drive workforce productivity.

    Besides focusing on developing managers to lead global teams, for over 58% of companies, providing bespoke learning opportunities is key to their ability to solve future uncertainty and raise employee productivity.

    This need to adopt bett­er skilling methods is driven by many who find themselves in uncertain waters. The study found that over 77% of companies identified skill gaps bett­er and provided more relevant learning opportunities as a top learning priority.

    Having the right learning pedagogies that enable tracking and impactful, new-age interventions targeted to improve communication skills is the need of the hour. The study found that the ability to work cohesively in a global work sett­ing depended crucially on how easily different teams can communicate with each other.

    Assessments and hiring for success

    To ensure the success of learning tools and goals related to communication and collaboration, companies also need to consider another key component of their talent management process: whom they hire.

    As recruitment becomes a key HR function, companies with globally distributed and diverse workforces today need to hire individuals who fit their culture and can upskill quickly. Therefore, it's no surprise that the top hiring priorities for companies in the coming year are:

    1. Assessing candidates’ ability to learn new skills
    2. Assessments to gauge job and culture fit
    3. Better engagement and experience

    While building the right communication skills focuses on enabling learners to gauge the nuances of a global work sett­ing and enhance their proficiency in the language, how companies hire proves to be equally important.

    Platforms such as Versant by ɫèAV prove vital tools for assessing job fit and communication skills, enabling companies with global workforces to hire those who meet their requirements. While new-age learning techniques help address gaps and spur productivity by enhancing communication and collaboration skills, ensuring the right candidates are hired greatly improves the ROI and impact of such skilling programs.

    Driving skills forward to help recruit, develop and retain talent

    The future of global workforces is increasingly dependent on how successfully they can communicate and collaborate with each other. While once considered skills that were good to have, they have risen to the forefront of business demand.

    There is a clear demand for bett­er assessment and learning tools that enable companies to hire and train bett­er. Companies with a global workforce today require personalized learning programs that leverage the latest tech solutions like generative AI, immersive learning, and greater ROI and impact tracking. The diversity of a global workforce throws up newer challenges, and as companies expand, having the right tools – that address both hiring and learning needs – can greatly improve how HR leaders create impact.

    With varying expectations and aspirations, aligning company needs with those of the employee is critical for success.

    Those who focus on building the right communication and collaboration capabilities within their global workforces today stand bett­er prepared to tackle business challenges and drive productivity.

    Investing in the right learning pedagogies and addressing communication concerns thus have a direct impact on how productive global workforces are. The new skilling agenda of focusing on communication and collaboration is today driven by a need to channel diverse workforces to tackle business uncertainty.

    A defining factor of how companies ensure a productive future is by building the right hiring and learning capabilities that address the new skilling agenda.

    To find out more about this study, download the full report here.

    ɫèAV works with over 2,000 leading enterprises around the world, helping them to diagnose skills gaps, identify learning pathways and interventions, and mobilize their workforces through verifiable skill credentials.

  • A business woman stood at a desk with a computer with two colleagues sat at the desk

    8 ways language training can transform your business

    By Samantha Ball
    Reading time: 5 minutes

    Around 20%Ìýof the , making it an integral component in global business operations. But the question remains for business leaders and HR professionals: how can language learning, specifically, business English courses, drive your organization forward?ÌýHere are 8 ways language training can impact your business.