Why Use The Sims(TM) 2 For Language Education?
The Sims 2 can be played in many world
languages. By simply changing the
default language, one can play
the game in any of these languages.
All in-game text is automatically translated.
The Sims 2 is highly image- and
text-based. Players control their
sims by clicking on objects or
other sims and then clicking on a verb to dictate how the sim should interact
with that object or sim. Students playing The Sims 2 in another
language learn verbs through
discovery. If they click on another
sim and choose “hug” the sim will walk up and hug that other sim. The student gets instant feedback on the
meaning of the verb “to hug”
and can learn vocabulary in this manner.
The Sims 2 offers a wide
variety of every-day vocabulary. In addition to verbs, household objects are key components to the
game and students can associate a word with the image of the object.
Even more than
teaching vocabulary, The Sims 2 also promotes narration. Players of The Sims 2 act out the lives of people, and
in doing so tell their stories. A
natural consequence of this is
the use of language to narrate the story they tell with the game.
Students can narrate their sims’ lives in
the target language, thus adding a compositional element to the educational use
of the game. Students can describe
their family, their house, or
make up a plot and author a story.
The game features a still-shot camera and movie camera to
promote story-telling using The Sims 2.
| 
