Learning a new language, especially mastering listening skills, can be challenging. For intermediate English learners, video games offer a fun, interactive way to sharpen your listening abilities without the monotony of traditional learning methods. In this post, we’ll explore how video games can improve your listening comprehension and provide specific examples of games that can enhance your English skills.
Why Video Games Improve Listening Skills
Video games often feature immersive environments with characters who speak in natural, conversational English. This allows learners to hear language as it’s used in real-life contexts, rather than simplified or artificial dialogues common in language courses. With native speaker voice acting, background sounds, and dynamic storylines, video games offer an engaging way to practice understanding spoken English in different situations.
Key Benefits of Using Video Games for Listening Practice:
- Contextual Learning: Players listen to instructions, dialogues, and audio cues that are tied to the in-game action, helping them grasp meaning based on context.
- Repetition: Certain game scenarios require players to repeat actions, reinforcing their listening comprehension.
- Engagement: Playing games makes learning fun, keeping you motivated for longer practice sessions.
Top Video Games for Intermediate-Level English Listening Practice
- Our Listening Games: Looking to sharpen your English listening skills while having fun? Try our Listening English Games for Adults—the perfect mix of entertainment and learning! This exciting and interactive game will keep you hooked as you effortlessly boost your comprehension and confidence in English. Dive in and make improving your listening skills an enjoyable adventure!
- Life is Strange (Series)
- Platform: PC, Xbox, PlayStation
Genre: Narrative-driven adventure
Why it’s great for listening:
“Life is Strange” focuses on dialogue-heavy storytelling with complex character interactions. Players follow conversations closely to make decisions that affect the story’s outcome. The characters use conversational English, including slang and idioms, making it a great choice for intermediate learners to improve their comprehension of natural speech.
How it helps:- Clear, emotion-driven dialogue that allows you to understand tone and context.
- Subtitles can be toggled on or off for practice with or without reading.
- Firewatch
- Platform: PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch
Genre: First-person adventure
Why it’s great for listening:
In “Firewatch,” players engage in lengthy conversations with another character through a walkie-talkie. The game’s slow-paced nature gives you time to focus on each word and sentence. The dialogue is entirely in English, and listening closely is crucial for understanding the unfolding mystery.
How it helps:- Features conversations with native speaker voice acting, which improves your ability to understand varied accents and speech rhythms.
- The game’s storytelling is reliant on spoken dialogue, perfect for deep listening practice.
- The Walking Dead (Telltale Series)
- Platform: PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Mobile
Genre: Episodic interactive drama
Why it’s great for listening:
“The Walking Dead” features multiple conversations where players need to make choices based on their understanding of the dialogue. The pacing allows for good practice with emotional tone, casual conversation, and regional accents.
How it helps:- You’ll need to listen carefully to understand the plot and make critical in-game decisions.
- The game allows you to replay chapters, giving you the chance to improve your listening comprehension with multiple attempts.
- Oxenfree
- Platform: PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Mobile, Nintendo Switch
Genre: Supernatural thriller, adventure
Why it’s great for listening:
“Oxenfree” is an adventure game where players navigate through a mysterious island, solving puzzles and interacting with friends through natural dialogue. The dialogue is fast-paced, with interruptions and real-time choices, offering a challenge for intermediate listeners.
How it helps:- The conversations are casual but filled with advanced vocabulary and idioms.
- The game’s unique dialogue system allows you to interact in real-time, helping you practice listening and responding quickly.
- Night in the Woods
- Platform: PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch
Genre: Story-driven adventure
Why it’s great for listening:
This game features characters who engage in casual yet meaningful conversations throughout the story. Though the speech is primarily text-based, the dialogue feels authentic and full of everyday English expressions.
How it helps:- Helps learners understand informal, conversational English.
- Perfect for practicing listening while multitasking, as the conversations unfold naturally within the gameplay.
How to Maximize Learning Through Video Games
- Use Subtitles Wisely: Start with subtitles on to catch every word, then gradually turn them off to challenge yourself. Try to understand the spoken language without relying on text.
- Repetition for Reinforcement: Replay sections to hear the dialogue multiple times. Repetition is key in listening practice.
- Focus on Pronunciation and Accents: Pay attention to different accents and the way characters pronounce words. It’s an excellent way to familiarize yourself with a range of English dialects.
- Pause and Reflect: If you miss a section of dialogue, pause and reflect on what you heard. This helps you process the information and improve over time.
Conclusion
Intermediate-level English learners can greatly benefit from video games that offer rich, dialogue-heavy narratives. Games like “Life is Strange,” “Firewatch,” and “The Walking Dead” allow you to improve your listening skills in an interactive, engaging environment. By incorporating these games into your learning routine, you’ll find that your understanding of spoken English improves while having fun!
Which video game have you tried for practicing your English listening skills? Let us know in the comments!
