HOW CAN WE LEARN ENGLISH AS A FOREIGNER LANGUAGE USING THE GAME "THE SIMS 3"?

Débora Souza

Technology has changed the learning process through the years. Teachers can utilize video games during the language learn process, for example. Technology is claimed to motivate the students because most of them are connected all the time. On February 4^th, 2000 a life simulation game series called “The Sims”, developed and published by EA games (Electronic Arts), was released. Will Wright initially created this game to be only an architecture simulator, but it became much more. The Sims third edition is much more useful to EFL students because it has far more details and attractive resources than the previous version.

 

Picture 1 - The Game

Students, mainly children and teenagers who are growing up in this High-Tech era have a number of quick and easy ways to access information and learn. Therefore, is very important that teachers take into account these “Digital Natives” (PRENSKY, 2001) and their sophisticated software and hardware. Teachers also must follow the “mediator rule” (VYGOTSKY, 1989), in which, according to social interactionist theory, the collaborative learning and interactive activities are essential in the classroom learning and students must share their knowledge. It is important that teachers intervene the learning process using approaches that allow their students to interact or dialogue with each other independently. Therefore, they should connect the students with knowledge as well. Teachers who care about students’ interest keep open the possibility to improve different methodologies that motivate students and develop their autonomy.

 

Picture 2 - The Sims

The game “The Sims 3” unconsciously induces people to another language. This game has so many different versions. It can be played on smart phones, tablets, laptops, video games, on-line or off-line. It is an engaging software because it is a life simulator that is funny, creative, and interesting. There it uses a rich vocabulary (clothes, colors food, places, home items, and others), it allows an interaction among the players (depending on the version), and it usually provides three different languages for play. The Sims is an endless game. It is possible to play with many characters and their several generations of a family. Thus the players/students learn through those things and they enrich their vocabulary, just by playing a game. They just need to create a whole family or just one character, buy or building their own house, maybe go to the university and then get a job, or perhaps open a business. They face routine problems and do almost everything that happens in a real life.

 

Picture 3 - How it works

When I started to play The Sims I did not notice that it could be useful to my learning, but I realized that it is because I usually played it in English. By playing I acquired a huge vocabulary. And it was easier to remember the words, when they were followed by pictures. This really helped me in the learning process. Now and then, this game gave me some challenges when I had to research to understand what was happening. After I became more interested in learning English, I realized how that game was becoming important to me. My purpose was not only to have fun, but to learn.      

 

Picture 4 - Mobile Version

This game offers a range of possibilities not only for the EFL students’ independent learning, but for teachers who are developing activities inside and outside of the class. Other people agree with me, that simulator games as “The Sims” enlarges learning. For example, there was a writing project developed with twenty-five students in the fourth grade with the purpose of creating narrative texts in Portuguese. This project was developed in four steps. At first, the students were introduced to the game software to learn how to use the tools. Then they started to play. In the third step they were encouraged to write about what was happing during the game, and in the last step, the students could post their narratives in a The Sims fan page on the internet (CRISTIANE OLIVEIRA, 2011). The participants in this project were really motivated and involved. It is observed that activities like that, wherein students can learn having fun, usually have good results. Additionally, the students were introduced to a new software, so they upgraded their technological skill, they improved their narrator ability, they learned different words, and they certainly expressed their all creativity in their stories as well. After this experience they became more autonomous.

According to the report, the digital technology that appears in The Sims 3 should be used to make a language learning process more interesting and enjoyable. It is practical and possible considering that people can play it everywhere. The richness of the game can be used to acquire vocabulary and for specific purposes as a writing project. Furthermore, it motivates the students to learn based on what they like and already know such as computers and technology. This game gives players a sensation of freedom. Therefore, students/players and teachers need to be careful because The Sims may become an addiction!