Gamification and Language Learning Strategies
Gamifying the Language Classroom
We can gamify a class by following these steps:
- Understanding the target audience and context
- Defining learning objectives
- Structuring the experience
- Identifying resources
- Applying gamification elements
We can gamify a Primary English classroom using many resources and games, such as Kahoot, Toovary, and Quizizz. Ultimately, the key to gamifying a classroom is to start with action or performance first, not with the content.
The Critical Period Hypothesis in Language Learning
Some experts believe there is a critical period: children who begin to learn a language before puberty will learn better; after puberty, it is more difficult to attain native-like fluency and pronunciation. The critical period hypothesis states, “The argument is that children are superior to adults in learning second languages because their brains are more flexible.”
However, this argument is criticized because some factors or differences between children and adults count at the time of learning L2, such as psychological and social factors, rather than biological ones. For example, children may be more motivated than adults to learn the second language. The requirements for communication as a child are quite different from the requirements for communication as an adult. However, starting early does not guarantee that a language will be learned, and effective language teaching must be age-appropriate. While young children need immersion, which imitates growing up with a language, older students require grammar and structure along with meaning and interaction.
Grammatical vs. Communicative Competence
Grammatical competence refers to the knowledge we have of a language that affects our ability to produce sentences. It refers to knowledge of the building blocks of sentences and how sentences are formed. Communicative competence includes the following aspects of language knowledge:
- Knowing how to use language for different purposes and functions
- Knowing how to vary our use of language according to the setting and the participants
- Knowing how to produce and understand different types of texts
- Knowing how to maintain communication despite having limitations in one’s language knowledge
Direct and Indirect Language Learning Strategies
Direct Strategies: Language learning strategies that directly involve the target language. They promote manipulating the language itself to enhance learning (memory, cognitive, and compensation strategies).
Indirect Strategies: Support and manage language learning without directly involving the target language. They help provide an optimal environment for learning (metacognitive, affective, and social strategies).
Memory strategies: Memory strategies are techniques that can be used to learn and retain new knowledge. They can increase the ability to remember and recall information. Some of these include memorization, the use of mnemonics, and outlining important points.
Cognitive strategies: These are a set of mental processes that are consciously used to obtain the manipulation or transformation of the target language. For example, when we use mind maps, underlining keywords, etc.
Examples of Language Learning Strategies
Memory Strategy:
- Applying images and sounds: Use visual imagery, make semantic maps, use different keywords, and represent sounds in memory to help language learners store verbal material.
Cognitive strategy:
- Creating structure for input and output: Write down the main idea, make a summary, and highlight a text to make it more comprehensible.
Compensation strategy:
- Guessing intelligently: Use linguistic clues to guess the meaning of the conversation.