E 183. The Surprising Way Board Games Can Boost Your Language Skills!

The episode features a conversation with Emma Cobb, the designer of Dialox, an Italian language card game that combines language learning and game design. Emma shares her journey and experiences that led her to develop this game, as well as the challenges and successes she encountered during the process. The game is designed to make language learning fun and engaging, with a focus on practical scenarios like ordering in a restaurant and asking for directions. Emma shares her journey of creating a language learning game, and the challenges she faced in playtesting and refining the game. She discusses the educational and social aspects of the game, as well as the potential impact on language learning. The conversation also delves into the Kickstarter project for 'Dialox' and the unique approach to language learning through tabletop games.

Takeaways

• Language learning through games
• Combining language learning and game design Language learning through tabletop games
• Challenges of playtesting and refining a language learning game
• Educational and social aspects of 'Dialogues'
• The potential impact of 'Dialogues' on language learning
• Unique approach to language learning through tabletop games

Chapters

• 00:00 The Challenge of Language Learning
• 03:16 First Board Game Experience
• 05:22 Inspiration for Language Learning Game
• 09:10 Tackling Grammar in a Card Game
• 15:19 Speaking a Foreign Language in a Game
• 19:28 Expanding Scenarios and Languages
• 23:05 Evolution from Board Game to Card Game
• 31:18 Expanding to Spanish and French Versions
• 31:46 Creating 'Dialogues' and Playtesting Challenges
• 33:45 Transition to 'Dialogues' as it Exists Currently
• 35:14 Influence of Culture and Language Selection
• 39:10 Tackling Colloquialisms and Language Variations
• 42:23 The Role of Tabletop Games in Language Learning
• 52:24 The Future of Educational Games and Language Learning
• 58:28 Kickstarter Project and Stretch Goals