One of my greatest discoveries was using DVDs to teach my children French. Simply by using the "French Language" option on our "Finding Nemo" DVD, we were able to review our French vocabulary in an incredibly fun way. We quickly expanded to other Disney movies and, when they got older, even into non-animated films. Now I hear that there is ANOTHER great way to study foreign languages -- by playing Xbox games! Did you know that you can play some video games in a foreign language?
John Nordlinger is a senior research manager for Microsoft Research in gaming efforts. He wanted a refresher on his French, so he started playing "EverQuest" -- the multiplayer online role-playing game -- in that language. The strategy worked, Nordlinger said, but he added that researchers don't completely understand why.
"When people play games, there is some sort of state they get into," he said. "Nobody has really studied whether or not the brain is more receptive to learning complex concepts when you're in that state. People assume that is the case."
What a fabulous idea! That would have been a PERFECT fit for my kids! I'm planning on telling Alex the idea today, because he is still taking French in college. He did watch "Finding Nemo" in French to prepare himself for this quarter. I was pleased that he remembered our homeschool strategies. Imagine his delight when he learns that he can study with video games! Just another great "out of the XBox" idea for learning a new language!
