| Description | In this PechaKucha I will give a brief overview of my past experiences involving young learners playing games that I designed for language learning. In doing so, I will provide examples of how learners took ownership of their in-game exploits and subsequently how such ownership led to meaningful interactions in and around the game. I argue that for language learning, rather than creating games to make learning palatable, games designers should focus on designs that allow for divergent experiences, customization and personalization. This is especially important for language learners as it is via in- and post-gameplay communications, often inspired by these varied experiences, that rich communicative exchanges occur. It is precisely these interactions that are most beneficial to language learning, and yet least explored in our field. I will conclude this microtalk with implications for both designers and educators looking to leverage games for language teaching and learning. |
