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By Sterling
What is Dungeons and Dragons?
Video games and their predecessor, the tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) have been around for quite some time. By now, there have been extensive studies by teachers and universities on the perks of including games in the classroom, but how can the self-study language learner reap the same benefits?
Dungeons and Dragons, also known lovingly by fans as DnD or D&D is one of these TTRPGs that has graced basements, dining room tables, and libraries since its inception in 1974. The game relies on a leader known as a “Game Master” or “Dungeon Master” who guides players through the twists and turns of either a pre-made adventure or an original tale (known as “homebrew”). The group of 3-6 people uses their imaginations to do everything from solving riddles to befriending mighty dragons all at the mercy of a 20-sided die. The result is a story where players are emotionally invested in the outcome, even if it’s not always in their favor. This tactic has worked wonders in English classrooms, improving skills such as; reading comprehension, problem-solving, research, and creativity.
Roll for Performance
Video games are proven to be an excellent supplement for language learning where students can see how words are spelled, used in context, and hear spoken dialogue in a perfect environment. TTRPGs take this one step further, placing learners “in the present” where they have to employ various language skills, such as clarification, using past and present tense, and holding a dialog. These environments are generally not perfect; containing things such as background noise or mic interference if the game takes place over the internet. Some D&D games aren’t even held over a video call, or if they are in-person they may take place in a noisy game hall, adding to the challenges that learners may face.
The good news is that common speech is repetitive. So much so that only 5% of a language’s vocabulary is needed according to this article on the 95/5 rule to have a conversation, plenty for the average person. Of course, one may think, ‘But D&D is a game with niche vocabulary used only in that setting.’
That is correct, some words aren’t used in day-to-day life, but the power of D&D is taking the mundane and making it extraordinary. Plenty of DMs (or GMs as some prefer to be called) take the simplest of items and give them a whole new meaning. For instance, a wooden spoon is suddenly the most sought-after weapon and a giant cricket can become the final boss. Mundane items and scenarios improve the acquisition of everyday spoken language through repetition giving a sense of real-world slang, values, and sentence structure. This is compared to relying solely on the immersive script sometimes found in video games such as Skyrim or The Witcher as these games may use archaic terminology, slang, and values to build their worlds.
Roll to Hit
Because of the use of common phrases and numbers 1-20 in D&D makes it a game prime for real-time feedback and practice in three of the four main areas of language learning. Even though there’s a distinct increase in difficulty due to a lack of aids such as subtitles, TTRPGs are great for training listening comprehension. Due to the 95/5 rule, repetition makes this jump from watching recorded shows to real life a slightly easier gap to bridge as the stakes are considerably lower than most real-life social interactions. These common phrases are used in instances between characters and, in some cases, puns are employed in word puzzles which is another common practice for language learning.
This brings us to one of the obvious things that makes D&D and TTRPGs different from video games. Dice. For most, learning numbers is about repetition, and for some of us, learning numbers are difficult due to a lack of meaning without a visual aid. D&D remedies this issue by tying numbers with outcomes such as success, failure, damage, percent, and in some unfortunate cases; life and death. Though equally abstract, the consensus for D&D is the higher the number is, the greater the chance for success. Number usage doesn’t stop there, including addition and subtraction which engages the part of the brain involved in arithmetic.
Socializing With the Group
While all this talk of numbers and outcomes may make D&D seem boring, the spontaneous nature of it creates an exciting environment for language learning with conversations often following the same flow as mundane ones instead of scripted dialogue. This organic environment allows learners who play with native speakers to receive real-time feedback in a low-risk, generally light-hearted setting (at least when the party isn’t dying to low-level monsters). Though players experience a range of emotions in D&D, the mood is reminiscent of light-hearted comedy or something akin to classic fantasy, not straying much toward darker settings. This makes for a little more palatable experience for players looking to expand their working vocabulary without worrying about potential mistakes leading to dramatic missteps for their character. Not worrying too much about the drama that comes with a darker setting, allows the player to truly enjoy immersion in both the game and their target language.
Learners can reap the benefits of D&D and other TTRPGs by searching for one-off games and finding a DM who specializes in teaching their native language through D&D. That said, it is still recommended that TTRPGs are used as a tool by intermediate learners and not total beginners. Though, if you enjoy TTRPGs, it’s safe to say there’s no shortage of them on YouTube where they can be treated the same as a TV show or movie. Find the group that fits best with your personality and you will go far in not only your language-learning adventures but in making friends who speak the native language as well.
More Information
Although it can be daunting to find a group, some popular online sites have places where you can find a game to suit your needs and personal tastes. The most important part of learning a language is using it, so why not have fun along the way?
About Sterling
Sterling is an American artist with a special place in her heart for learning about the world around her. She spends her time learning languages, foraging for dye materials, and creating worlds. When she’s not busy with her creative endeavors, she’s taking courses to better herself as a person and hone her craft.