Players will learn and solidify Chinese vocabulary in their memory through a sequence of listening to a dialogue, reviewing the associated vocabulary words, and subsequently at a significantly later time, answering questions that require memory of the vocabulary.
The game will utilize existing podcasts on Chinesepod.com, but primarily use those dialogues that fit with the overarching theme defined by the game name: New in Town. In the game, the player will follow these simple steps:
- Listen to the dialogue and view the words (and scene) at the same time
- Review the key vocabulary – listening and viewing the words (along with an associated picture)
- After an amount of time has elapsed: 4 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours or 24 hours, (a count-down timer displays remaining time), the player must answer a question requiring them recall one or more of the vocabulary word(s). Players provide answers by using a popup keyboard and typing the required word(s) into the empty field. Points are added to (or deducted from) a running total score based on a correct (incorrect) answer.
The prototype provides a working example of the skeletal structure of the game. Features yet to be added during development include:
- Art work appropriate to the dialogue
- Background (Chinese) music (to be discussed)
- Selectable options to view the dialogue via Pinyin, simplified, or traditional characters at the same time as the player listens to the dialogue, and when reviewing the vocabulary. The same option will determine the form required for answering the subsequent questions.
- Multiple levels, Newbie, elementary, etc. associated with the dialogue level in Chinesepod.com. At the Newbie level, vocabulary is provided, and answers are required in Pinyin along with tone numbers [1-4]. At higher levels selectable options for simplified or traditional characters are available.
- Selectable Chat-bot/friend to pose the questions.
- Opportunities to earn bonus points by correctly identifying non-dialogue, but common, vocabulary at random times. Examples at the Newbie level include numbers 1-10, directions (bei[2], nan[2] …) , and colors. At the Elementary level: seasons of the year, time of day, adverbs (always, never, often, sometimes, …). At the Intermediate level, counting words, conjunctions, etc.
- Add a way to associate vocab. words to pictures
- Integrate various game flows while waiting for the review
- Identify goals to work towards and bonuses for points gained during the game
- Implement push notifications to notify the user that action possible
The structure of the game is based on the educational research findings presented by Peter Brown in his book “Make it Stick” in which the learning process is characterized as the effort to slow the forgetting process. The book convincingly demonstrates that remembering, or learning information is best accomplished via the struggle to pull items from our fading memories rather than by looking at the information a second, third or fourth time. The core idea for this game is to reward the process of pulling information back from the player’s fading memory and therefore enhance the process of making it stick.
You can install the current prototype (iOS) via: https://testflight.apple.com/join/IV00haIS Please note that the prototype uses audio.
Game Introduction (after opening the app):
Hi – it looks like you are new in town. Welcome. There are many things to discover here – good restaurants, beautiful sights, lots of fun places to visit and interesting things to do. Listen carefully to the conversations around you. You will need the information later in order to find your way around. Just like in real life, you will want to use the key phrases and words not immediately, but later – like 4 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, or even 24 hours later. Good luck. And again – welcome to your new town.
Example: (Elementary level dialog) Questions – B3045 Rude Waitress story- Part 1
After 4 hours: Q: When we needed to get the attention of the waitress – what did we call her?
A: fu[2]wu[4]yuan[2] 服务员
Q: I would like to have known what their specialty dish was. How do we say ‘specialty dish’? A: zhao[1]pai cai[4] 招牌菜
After 8 hours:
Q: I was not surprised that the specialty dish would be relatively expensive. What phrase did she use to describe it as relatively expensive?
A: bi[3]jiao[4] gui[4] 比较贵
Q: How would I say ‘relatively inexpensive?’
A: bi[3]jiao[4] pian[2]yi 比较便宜
Q: I am glad we decided to leave that place. What phrase was used to say ‘forget it!’?
A: suan[4]le, suan[4]le! 算了算了！
After 12 hours:
Q: How phrase did the waitress use inviting you to try the dish?
A: ni[3]chi[1]chi[1]kan[4] 你吃吃看
Q: We decided to try the place across the road. What word indicated ‘on the opposite side’?
A: dui[4]mian[4] 对面
Q: The place across the way has dumplings. How do we say ‘dumplings’?
A: bao[1]zi 包子
After 24 hours:
Q: If you eat the dish you will know whether it is hot or not. How do we say ‘you will know’? A: ni[3]zhi[1]dao[4]le 你知道了
Q: She certainly said ‘take care’ in a sarcastic tone. How did she say ‘take care’? A: man[4]zou[3] 慢走
Questions associated with B3049 - Rude Waitress – Part 2
After 4 hours
Q: Looks like the owner is running the baozi place. What do we say to get the attention of the owner?
A: lao[3]ban[3] 老板
Q: She was so friendly! The first thing she said was ‘no problem.’ What phrase did she use to say ‘no problem’? A: mei[2]wen[4]ti[2] 没问题
After 8 hours
Q: So many flavors of baozi! How do you say ‘flavor’?
A: kou[3]wei[4] 口味
Q: Can you name one of the savory flavors?
A: rou[4]bao[1], cai[4]bao[1] 肉包， 菜包
Q: Can you name one of the sweet flavors?
A: zhi[3]ma[2], qiao[3]ke[4]li[4] 芝麻，巧克力
After 12 hours
Q: How do you say ‘… all together, 40 yuan’?
A: yi[1]gong[4] si[4]shi[2]kuai[4]qian[2] 一共四十块钱
Q: We described the waitress across the way as really quite rough. What phrase was used to describe her?
A: tai[4] xiong[1]le! 太凶了！
Q: The owner was really nice. What did we say to tell her so?
A: nin[2] zhen[1] hao[3] 您真好
After 24 hours:
Q: The owner indicated that the rude waitress was her daughter. How did she say that?
A: ta[1] shi[4] wo[3] nü’[3]er[2] 她是我女儿
Q: She told her daughter to work there! What word is the verb ‘to work’?
A: shang[4]ban[1] 上班
(Newbie level dialogue) A0163 – Where is the bathroom?
After 4 hours
Q: Here’s an important question – how do you say ‘bathroom’?
A: xi[3]shou[3]jian[1]
Q: So, how do we ask ‘where is the bathroom?”
A: xi[3]shou[3]jian[1] zai[4] na[3]li ?
After 8 hours
Q: How did he say it was located on the second floor?
A: zai[4] er[4]lou[2]
Q: Please be polite – say ‘thank you’
A: xie[4]xie
Q: How did he respond by saying ‘not at all’
A: bu[4] yong[4] xie[4]
(Newbie level dialogue) A0226 – lost luggage
After 4 hours
Q: Oh my, where is my luggage? How do you say ‘my luggage’?
A: wo[3]de xing[2]li
Q: How do you say, ‘my luggage cannot be found?’
A: wo[3]de xing[2]li zhao[3]bu[2]dao[4]
After 8 hours
Q: How do you say, ‘my passport is missing’?
A: wo[3]de hu[4]zhao[4] diu[4]le
Q: How do you say, ‘… wallet is also missing’?
A: qian[2]bao[1] ye[3] diu[4]le
Q: Time to offer some help. How do you say ‘I will help you look?’
A: wo[3] bang[1] ni[3] zhao[3]
John Pfotenhauer & Jan Trutzschler Illustration: Gabriele Trutzschler