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How computer games help children learn English

"He spends ail his time playing computer games! He won't do his homework!"

It's a common complaint these days: children spending too much time playing video games. But not all video games are bad for kids. In fact, educational computer games can reinforce classroom learning. And CD-ROMS help children learn English at home because they are effective on several different levels.

One of the most important factors in learning a second language like English is motivation. As any parent who's watched a son or daughter on the computer knows, children love to play computer games. Children enjoy playing games like hangman on the computer, and sometimes they have so much fun, it seems unlikely they are learning. But just because it's fun, doesn't mean they aren't learning. Our minds are programmed to learn, to understand new ideas, to grow; we find enjoyment in learning. Learning is fun! Because computer games are fun, children become motivated to learn English, whether it's listening to instructions, matching words to pictures, reading, spelling, or solving a maze. And typically, the child gives these tasks his or her full attention which makes the experience of learning English productive and best of all, fun!

So now that we have the children's attention, what specific features of computer games help them to absorb the language?

You may have noticed that children are happy to play the same computer game over and over again. This aids in learning English because repetition is a key factor in second language learning. When a child plays games such BS hangman or crossword puzzles, he or she builds vocabulary and practices spelling. Playing these games repeatedly helps the child to memorize new words. When using a CD-ROM, children usually choose a few games as favorites, play them again an6 again, and eventually move on to new games, in this way, the child controls his or her own learning and progresses at his or her own pace, naturally.

CD-ROMs provide children with a sense of empowerment. In daily life, children often hear things like "You're too little to do that," or "When you're older," but on the computer, the child sees results after coloring in a picture or feels a sense of accomplishment after putting the days of the week in order. By mastering genera! computer skills like using the mouse and keyboard, and navigating around the computer screen, a child develops a sense of control. And playing games in English reinforces specific skills such as learning to read from left to right and top to bottom, and using the English alphabet, Developing general computer skills and English-specific skills prepares children for the future.

Interactive learning is another beneficial feature of educational computer games, For example, let's say we have a simple matching activity where pictures of animals are paired with word labels. In this activity, the child clicks on the picture of a dog and hears the word 'dog', then he or she finds the text 'dog', clicks on it, and hears the word 'dog1. He or she then drags the correct word to the correct picture and hears the word 'dog' again and the dog barks. In this example, audio supports the image (the dog picture or the word 'dog!) in a direct way that the child can understand when learning at home. The act of moving the word to the image engages the child's attention more actively than sitting back while a teacher reads the word and points to a picture in a textbook. Interactive learning is like the old saying; "I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, l do and I understand."

Because computer games appeal to multiple senses, they address different learning styles . When playing a game, children hear and see English and are typically required to move letters, words, or pictures using the mouse. This combination of listening, seeing, and movement boosts the child's experience of the language more powerfully than a textbook alone because it activates several senses at the same time. In this way, a child with good audio skills and another child with good visual skills can each use his or her own individual strengths to complete a task.

Computer-based learning is helpful for some emotional styles of children as well. For the shy child, learning in the safety and comfort of his or her home is very valuable. He or she can play games repeatedly to gain mastery over activities that are more challenging to understand. He or she can repeat words out loud, sing along, and feel free to click around the screen of the computer, unashamed to make mistakes. For the child who is easily distracted, working on the computer may help him or her to concentrate better than in a classroom of peers.

All this is not to say that CD-ROMs are a replacement for learning English in a classroom setting, they merely help reinforce the learning that goes on there. That being said, computer games provide children with a sense of empowerment, as they can learn English at their own pace. Computer games reinforce classroom learning by helping children to remember vocabulary and structures, and by previewing new language. If the key to learning English is repeated exposure, then the engaging nature of educational computer games is certainly a wise investment of a child's time.

Author

Lynne Robertson was formerly an Editor with Oxford University Press in New York where she worked on Let's Go 2nd Edition, Let's Go Starter level, and the Let's Go Picture Dictionary . She has taught English in Japan and has over ten years experience writing and developing content for children's educational products for print, the web, CD-ROM, and video.

Source

Oxford Teacher's Club - http://www.oup.com/elt/teachersclub/adults/