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."

Stupid Simspeak

[shamowfski]

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.

Sesame Street

[Slider451]

Today's Sim gaming experience brought to you by the number ocho.

Halo 2 in French?

[jcostantino]

So were all of the people who downloaded early release copies of Halo 2 in French actually learning instead of just stealing? Sacre blu!!

Traditional method:

[pommiekiwifruit]

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.

Re:Whats wrong with the old fashioned way

[Anonymous Coward]

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.)

Great!

[krunchyfrog]

Now I can learn Klignon! The weaks will pee on themselves like weak little kittens while *I* will show my AUTHORITAY!

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.

No thanks...

[Progman3K]

I already know all the 'leet-speak I'm interested in.

Re:This is actually an interesting idea...

[OECD]

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?"

Re:Halo 2 in French?

[Anonymous Coward]

that'd be "sacre bleu" while we're learning.

(and I dunno how you do those accute accent things on the e of sacre. pointless foreign pretension anyway, all those little bits of crap around their letters).

Re:Children learn English this way now

[kutuz_off]

When I was growing up, most of my English vocabulary came from Civilopedia.

Re:Traditional method:

[superpulpsicle]

I learned all my German from Wolfenstein.

Shneil. Shneil.

Danke.

Re:Traditional method:

[c0p0n]

duuu....

DU HAST!

Re:Hold on a minute....

[Jesus 2.0]

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?"