{"id":578,"date":"2015-11-30T20:52:33","date_gmt":"2015-11-30T20:52:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/games2teach.uoregon.edu\/?p=578"},"modified":"2020-07-02T17:35:55","modified_gmt":"2020-07-02T17:35:55","slug":"simcity-buildit-in-the-language-classroom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/games2teach.uoregon.edu\/2015\/11\/30\/simcity-buildit-in-the-language-classroom\/","title":{"rendered":"SimCity BuildIt in the Language Classroom"},"content":{"rendered":"

SimCity BuildIt<\/span><\/i> is mobile-based city building game available on Android and iOS that has become very popular both in the US and internationally. In its first three weeks, it was downloaded more that 15 million times (Maiberg, 2015). In an interview with <\/span>GamesBeat<\/span><\/i>, EA Mobile vice president and group general manager Jason Willig claimed that most players \u201csay they love it,\u201d and referenced the 4.5 star rating of the game in the US, France, Korea, Germany, and the UK (Newman, 2015). He also said that his team has \u201cdesigned <\/span>SimCity BuildIt<\/span><\/i> to keep players engaged for years to come,\u201d and pointed to forthcoming improvements that may include allowing players to communicate with each other regarding their cities (Newman, 2015). Because of this potential for sustained player engagement, the game lends itself well to being used in the world language classroom. In order to aid educators in their implementation of the game in their classrooms, this post will provide an analysis of the usefulness of <\/span>SimCity BuildIt <\/span><\/i>and will give examples and ideas of different types of activities that a teacher could use in the language classroom.<\/span><\/p>\n

SimCity BuildIt<\/span><\/i> is especially effective for its potential to engage learners; there is a wide variety of topics that it provides for students to interact with while using the target language. For example, this game includes themes like leadership, resource allocation, population satisfaction, trade, taxation and alternative sources of funding, city planning, services, and perception of politicians. In addition, the game itself has a very user-friendly, simple design. Players who are not accustomed to playing digital games will find it easy to use, and learners, even at novice levels, should find support in the simple layout, straightforward tasks, and clear direction. In short, they will be able to focus their efforts on the language-learning aspect of the game rather than potentially feeling disoriented by gameplay.’<\/span><\/p>\n

\"SimCity1\"<\/a>\u00a0\"SimCity3\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Another benefit of incorporating <\/span>SimCity BuildIt <\/span><\/i>into the world language classroom is the autonomy, and resulting engagement, that it affords learners. For the most part, learners are free to develop their cities as they see fit (within some limiting guidelines), and at the end of their creation, they have a product to reflect upon. This autonomy makes the learner an integral and interested actor in the game, and by extension, part of the language classroom. It is not insignificant that the learners are given the role of mayor and have the associated responsibility and accountability for the wellbeing of their cities. That they get to do it all through their target language may raise their expectations of what they are able to accomplish in that language.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"SimCity4\"<\/a> \"SimCity2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Because the language used in the game is relatively simple and its associated topics are complex, the game can easily serve as a springboard for activities targeted toward all levels of language learners. Some potential themes and sample expansion activities for each level are listed below.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ideas for activity topics with <\/span>SimCity BuildIt <\/span><\/i>in the classroom: <\/span><\/p>\n