I don’t remember how but I came across this new app called Fluyo that looks like a video game, and you’re a dolphin on an adventure (watch the trailer you’ll see what I mean 
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So I’m wondering now, has anyone ever used video games to practice their target language?
We’ve talked about changing your phone’s language but how about changing the language of a video game? Playing Pokemon in Japanese for example?
I’m curious to know about other students experiences as I’ve never done it!
my Yoga app (with videos), if that counts as video app, haha: I usually switch it to Italian or French. Anyway, already English is a foreign language.
Duolingo,
also not really a video game, but recently I have tried Italian for Chinese people.
新单词，继续，太给力了！Nice to find these known expressions in a “real” environment.
I didn’t think of other apps but well done for the yoga one!
I have some friends who loved playing japanese video games and they started to learn some words because all the instructions were in Japanese!
I think it’s very useful to combine fun with learning
Using video games to learn a language has tons of potential. I know many people who learned English/Japanese through playing Pokemon when they were kids. Since they got into the language while they were young they pretty much sound native now. So jealous.
I was really into German in College and several years after. I played an online MMO RPG called Everquest which had German servers and a German client. Since I knew the game already from playing it in English, transitioning to German was pretty easy. But speaking to German people in German in a German only speaking environment was a whole new experience. It was a bit surreal for me at the time and really helpful for my German.
I got into Japanese about 10 years ago and tried playing Japanese RPG games on Playstation like Final Fantasy but it was too hard for me at the time mostly due to the writing system. My Japanese is much better now (I got JLPT N2 a while back) and I tried Final Fantasy online in Japanese and it went much better but was still pretty challenging. I hadn’t ever played it in English so I was trying to learn the game using only Japanese. I didn’t keep it up though for a few reasons - one of which is I wanted to study Korean instead.
I think video games are excellent for improving your language though. Since they’re interactive they force you to use the language rather than just passively absorbing it. I found playing Final Fantasy online in Japanese to be a lot more challenging than reading a book in Japanese. Potentially, if I kept playing the game, I would have had the opportunity to interact with Japanese players too which would be awesome.
I’m studying Korean now and there are plenty of Korean versions of games out there but any Korean online games are strictly regulated by the Korean government. I think it’s to protect Korean kids. Basically you need the equivalent of a Korean social security number or something to play on them I believe. So I don’t think it’s an option for Korean leaners.
Thank so much for sharing your experience, that was a really interesting read.
Playing video games in one’s target language is an immersive experience indeed, as like you said everything is written in that language and you play with native speakers, which would allow for speaking/listening practice.
Interesting fact about Korean games, I didn’t know about that!
I completely agree that video games are a great way to learn a language! I also know several people who learned English or Japanese through games, and they speak so well! It’s certainly enviable, especially considering they’ve been immersed in the language since childhood. Games always provide a lot of context, and that’s what helps cement words and phrases in your memory.
It’s interesting how you used Everquest to improve your German. It really helps when you’re already familiar with a game in another language; it makes it easier to adapt to new words and phrases. Plus, when you’re immersed in live conversation with native speakers, as you described, it adds a whole new level of engagement. I experienced something similar when I started learning Japanese.
As for Japanese RPGs, I tried them too, but when I was just starting out, it was really challenging, especially because of the written language. Congratulations on passing JLPT No. 2! That’s a huge success. Final Fantasy in Japanese is a real challenge, especially if you’ve never played the English version. I’m sure continuing to play the game in this context could be very helpful for deepening your understanding of the language.
As for Korean games, yes, there are certain peculiarities, such as strict regulations to protect children. This makes access a bit more difficult, but I’m sure there are other ways to immerse yourself in the language through films, music, or even social media. I’m also interested in the Korean language and sometimes look for ways to practice, but overall, games are a really cool way.