There are lots of games out there for learning everything from basic math to foreign languages. These games are usually fun and were almost always designed by dedicated teachers who really want to help you learn, so while I love the teachers dearly who have developed these games, it’s still important to ask the impolite question “Do they work?”

Unfortunately, asking a teacher if his or her favorite method for teaching really works is a good way to start a fight at a teachers convention. Educators in general do not check to see if what they are doing really works. Since they rarely check to see whether or not their methods work, they rarely make the corrections necessary to improve their systems.

I’ve talked to a lot of people who have used language learning games, and the general opinion is that these games are fun but aren’t effective ways to learn or retain a new language.

We have tested our method for learning foreign languages, and it works very well IF (and only if) you carefully follow the directions. If you don’t follow the directions, it won’t work nearly as well.

So if you want to play a game and entertain yourself, that’s fine, but skip most educational games because they really don’t work.

Now if you happen to be one of the teachers who does check to see if what you are doing works, then we will sing your praises and send you flowers. The world needs more people like you.

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