So why should you consider making your own language card game besides the obvious reason: it’s fun! There are two big reasons I can think of: the first is we learn content at the deepest level when we create with it and when we teach it. So if you design an educational game around your target language, you are going to be cementing that language very deeply in your mind.
The second reason is: we can address specific problems or struggles we are having with our target language through the creation of a game. To illustrate this point, I would like to share a story I absolutely love. It comes from the man behind Japanese: The Game, who said that one of his students was struggling with grammar and couldn’t find a way through, so he designed a little game with slips of paper to help that student order sentences and it worked! That was the prototype, which later became Japanese: The Game.
So in this example, and I’ve heard of other examples like this related to grammar issues, a card game was specifically designed to address a problem. So you might wanna think about what problem are you having with your target language? How could you solve that problem with a card game? Because chances are if you are having that problem, other people are, and you’ll be able to share, sell, or play your game with them.
In my case, there were several reasons why I created each of my games: Chinese Champions, Othertongue, and Fighting Flashcards, but let’s just take one: Chinese Champions.
I had been learning Chinese in China for years. I would speak it in the streets every day, I would have conversations with people, I would practice my flashcards when I came home, I would watch some lessons on youtube, etc., etc. But for me, something was missing. First of all, I’m a gamer, I love to game. And I couldn’t find a card game that could teach me some Chinese. Secondly, I like words. I like unusual vocabulary. And I couldn’t find a product out there that really conveyed how interesting and magical certain vocabulary words are. I couldn’t find a product or game designed to enrich or kindle my interest in words. That’s when I decided to create Chinese Champions and scratch my own itch, so to speak.
So what are you waiting for? Is there a problem or a shortcoming in your language practice that you could tackle by creating a card game? Start simply at first. Just create a prototype on pieces of paper or index cards and see if it will work. Later, you can get more professional with it, add photos, make a rulebook, and so on. Actually, I have a video series about how to make and sell your first card game, so if you’re interested, I will link out to that here.
Alright that’s it for this post! Don’t forget to like and subscribe so that you and other likeminded people can find your way back to my latest and greatest content. You can also head over to the Language Card Games Shop to buy a game, support what I do, and start playing your way to language-learning success today.
In my next post, I will introduce some of my personal study habits! Stick around.
