Computer games help expats learn Chinese

Screenshot from CCTV shows a computer program that makes it easier and more fun for foreign students to learn Chinese. (Photo / CNTV)

Chinese and Australian researchers are developing a computer program that makes it easier and more fun for foreign students in Shanghai to learn Chinese. Some foreign students have already had a chance to try it out.

Julie Knauer from Germany and her friends began studying Chinese here this summer. But instead of reading Chinese-language books, they're using software that helps them learn Chinese through three different games.

"I think it's good and fun," Knauer said. "And I think it's good to learn Chinese with it. I like the space shuttle."

"Before, I know one software which helps to learn Chinese, but it's a bit complicated, and you will be lost in the middle," Binyam Maryam said.

The software was developed by an Australian team and Tongji University, and is still being tested. The Australian developer says it uses flow psychology, which changes the way the mind works to put users in a state where they are most receptive to take on new information.

"We use that psychology in the games to keep the players engaged and we progress at a perfect level for them," Koala Academy managing director Leon Young said. "So, it's always not too easy, not too hard and allows them to learn more vocabulary in a short amount of time. And our research in Australia found that students were learning about 12 new words in the 40-minute period which is better than practice in face-to-face class.

Young says the biggest difference with their software is that it can be tailored to individual users.

"There are some things that they want to learn that's not covered in our software," They can put the data in and then select a type of game and publish their own game and share their game with their own friends."

But the students and their language teacher say they expect the program to do more than just keep the words in mind.

"I would like to see more interconnections between these language points or among these language points so much," Tongji University Prof. Li Mei said. "So that students can really enjoy the different dots which seem unconnected in the so-called knowledge world. If these things can be connected in the software, it will really create a nice world for the students to learn."

"I don't know how to pronounce it," Maria Illing said. "When I learn the word, I don't know how to pronounce it by myself. Somebody has to tell me how to pronounce it."

Developers say that they will test the software at five other universities in Shanghai and try to improve it for the growing number of foreigners learning Chinese. They say they expect to release the final version at the beginning of next year.