Game: “Dog Park”

Written By Brandon Douglas

– B2-C2 (upper-intermediate to advanced) –

GAME DETAILS

GENRE: Family

AGE RATING: 10+

PLAYERS: 1-4

AVERAGE TIME: 40-80 mins.

GAMEPLAY:

  • strategy

  • set collection

  • worker placement

  • auction/bidding

REPLAYABILITY: High

EXPANSIONS: Available (4+)

BUY HERE

Photo courtesy of boardgamegeek.com.

Practice Your Listening Comprehension

Practice Your Reading Comprehension

An effective way to practice a language is by incorporating it into your hobbies. After all, if you’re interested in something then you are more likely going to remember something. So, if you are a fan of board games, playing one every so often could help you improve your reading and listening comprehension, as well as your speaking abilities.

Over the last 10 years or so, board games have become quite modernized in both format and gameplay, making them more popular among adults. Since adults cannot always get together with a group of people due to their individual responsibilities and conflicting schedules, many board games now offer a solo mode in addition to their multiplayer formats. This means that you can have fun and practice your language abilities both alone and with others.

WHAT TO LEARN

Another reason why board games are a great language learning tool is that they provide the opportunity to improve your communication skills in English as they relate to giving instructions, explaining rules and regulations, summarizing, delegating tasks, teamwork, progress, consequences, and results. Also, because board games are typically based on specific themes, they make for great opportunities to expand and practice precise vocabulary in both a passive and active manner.

MY RECOMMENDATION

Dog Park by Lottie and Jack Hazell, and produced by Birdwood Games, is a beautifully painted board game that is ideal for language learners who are dog owners or dog lovers. By playing this game you can learn a variety of English language elements:

  • British English

  • the present simple

  • the present continuous

  • the past simple

  • the future tense

  • the imperative

  • giving instructions

  • collocations

  • vocabulary related to:

    • dog breeds

    • taking care of dogs

    • dog toys and accessories

    • personality traits

    • history

    • games

    • nationalities

    • business

    • competition

  • and much more…!

Do you like dogs? Are you a board gamer? What are your favourites? Let me know in the comments below.

Brandon Douglas
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