Slashdot Mirror
Learning a Foreign Language with The Sims
JavaTHut writes "The Journal Language Learning and Technology has a new article describing how The Sims can be modified to teach a foreign language. With this and other efforts at U.S.C. and M.I.T., could simulated immersion within video games become an effective way of acquiring a foreign language? Also of interest in the article are suggestions for using spatialized translation layers in foreign language songs and a Firefox extension for learning foreign vocabulary words."
I re-installed the original Sims probably 5 times before I realized that they were speaking their own language and not some german/spanish mix. I kept turning it up real loud trying to figure out what the fork they were saying.
Today's Sim gaming experience brought to you by the number ocho.
Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.
So were all of the people who downloaded early release copies of Halo 2 in French actually learning instead of just stealing? Sacre blu!!
Reviews with a twist! http://www.sardonicbastard.com
Learn English from Beatles songs.
Learn French from Asterix comics.
Learn Italian from music scores.
Learn Japanese from Arcade games.
Learn German from pr0n videos.
I agree that this is probably the fastest way to learn a language. Just make sure you go beyond just your babe or babes, and hang out with dudes too. There's an American guy I know who lived in Japan, and learned Japanese by hanging out with babes. His Japanese was actually pretty good, considering he only lived there for a little over a year. However, there was one flaw; he talked exactly like the young babes he hung out with... which had the effect of making him sound stereotypically gay. (He was/is straight.)
Seriously though, I think people will get bored because of all the repetition it will say. Imagine hearing "KT-UTLAH' SHO'K!!" every two minutes... I would get crazy after a few hours! Not to mention everyone living in the house hearing that.
printf($randomline(sigs.txt) \n "-- "$randomline(authors.txt));
-- myself
I already know all the 'leet-speak I'm interested in.
I don't know the meaning of the word 'don't' - J
Are there games that are more dependant on actually being able to communicate?
What's arabic for "You are in a maze of twisty passages, all alike?"
One man's -1 Flamebait is another man's +5 Funny.
When I was growing up, most of my English vocabulary came from Civilopedia.
I learned english that way when I was a kid. Reading D&D manuals
"Excusing me, sir... I am... lost? I would like to... how you say... make saving throw?"