Department of Education

Gaming Grammar proves popular with language pupils

Posted on 25 March 2022

Use of a code-cracking online game designed to help pupils learn modern foreign language grammar has more than quadrupled in the last 12 months.

Uptake of an online game that helps pupils to learn modern foreign language grammar through a series of code-cracking games has more than quadrupled in the last 12 months. Gaming Grammar was developed by the department's National Centre for Excellence for Language Pedagogy (NCELP) in collaboration with colleagues within the University of York and the University of Reading.

The game is aimed at upper Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 students and helps provide a strong foundation of grammatical knowledge for teachers and students to build upon in preparation for the revised Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) GCSE Subject Content in French, German and Spanish, announced in January 2022.

Emma Marsden, Professor of Education at the University of York and Director, NCELP commented: “Research on form-meaning mapping has shown that by providing focussed listening and reading practice, which draws students’ attention to the meaning (or function) of grammar, students get better at understanding new pieces of grammar when listening and reading. Students also tend to improve their ability to accurately use new grammar features when writing and speaking.”

You can read more about Gaming Grammar in this article from Education Business: Digital approach to foreign language learning launched | Education Business (educationbusinessuk.net)