HONE
LINGUISTIC
SKILLS
Language Quest
Joint DARPA and Department of Education Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant
Users: Elementary school-aged children
Our challenge:
Help native English-speaking children develop skills that will make it easier for them to learn foreign languages.
The Game:
Join a crew of intergalactic exolinguists as they travel the galaxies researching alien languages for the development of a universal translator. Each level includes an interactive comic (Adventure Quest), a Quest Game, a series of Skill Games, and a set of Collectible Cards.
RESEARCH-BASED OUTCOMES
Based on research in linguistics and cognitive science, the game develops five executive functions (the columns) across a range of four linguistic skills (the rows).
INTERACTIVE COMIC
Players explore, discover, and learn as they play through a rich story filled with novel settings, intriguing characters, and challenging language puzzles.
SKILLS FOCUS: NOTICING AND REMEMBERING SOUNDS
At the Chatter Cafe on Bobiba, players must keep customers happy by serving the dishes they ask for.
This activity builds skills in discriminating tones frequent in Chinese Thai, and other tonal languages.
SKILLS FOCUS: NOTICING AND REMEMBERING RHYTHM
In the Marlone Forest, players attempt to capture a Saptapper by mimicking the rhythms it makes when it taps on trees.
This activity builds noticing and memory skills in rhythm (prosody).
SKILLS FOCUS: NOTICING AND REMEMBERING WORDS
In the jungle of Marusaya, players help a group of hungry monkeys access the banana treasure guarded by a singing idol. If the monkeys can sing the song back to the idol, the idol will release the treasure.
SKILLS MAPS
Detailed, customized metrics motivate players to build skills and attain achievements in areas that are important to them.