It’s been a while since language learning apps started incorporating gamification into their lessons. Elements like streaks, leaderboards, points, and achievements have changed the way many see language learning, turning it into a fun and interactive experience.
However, an aggressive approach to gamification isn’t always the best for some learners, as it can create too much pressure, distract them from the real objective, and even lead to the loss of motivation.
That’s why today we’ll be taking a look at gentle gamification in language apps. We’ll discuss what it is, how it works, and how the Ling app is a great way to try it out.
What Is Gentle Gamification?
Let’s start with gamification first. Gamification is a strategy that applies game mechanics to non-game contexts. This can be streaks and leaderboards in language learning apps, progress trackers in fitness apps, daily objectives in work settings or education, and much more.
“Hard” gamification usually takes a competitive approach, with scores, competitions, and game-like rules. It aims to motivate users, clients, workers, or others to complete objectives or engage with products or services.
Now, gentle gamification takes a softer approach. It still incorporates game-like mechanics and elements, but in a way that avoids overwhelming the user with too much pressure.
Gentle gamification focuses more on personal motivation and a stress-free but still motivational experience. It forgoes aggressive mechanics like competitions and excessive pressure and focuses more on progress and purpose.
Why Gamification In Language Apps Can Be A Struggle For Some Learners
The thing about “hard” gamification is that excessive pressure can be too much for some learners. After all, learning a new language is stressful enough on its own without adding an angry mascot pestering you to keep that streak.
Here are some issues gamification can create when not used properly:
- Game-like features can be distracting. Flashy animations, insistent notifications, and a focus on competing with other users and collecting medals can make you lose sight of the actual goal: learning the language!
- As mentioned, keeping that streak can be overwhelming. Doing the lessons just to avoid losing it, without actually paying attention, won’t get you very far if your aim is to achieve language proficiency in your target language.
- Pressure isn’t always motivation. Some users prefer a more meaningful approach, where game-like elements are just a support tool, but motivation comes from within. Perhaps you want to learn Thai to communicate with your partner and in-laws, or maybe you’re learning Lithuanian to connect with your roots. Whatever your goal, that motivation is much more powerful than being the user with the most points that month.
The Science Behind Gamification In Language Learning
Science has been studying how gamification can be used to enhance learning for a while. Let’s go over some key ideas posed by researchers:
- Positive reinforcement has been proven to result in changes in behavior.
- Successfully accomplishing tasks can boost motivation.
- Friendly competition is a great way to motivate students to participate.
- Collaborative challenges can strengthen community.
- Gamification transforms repetitive tasks into rewarding experiences.
- It can also lead to an increase in productivity, which is why it’s also applied in work settings.
7 Benefits Of Gentle Gamification In Language Apps
We’ve already mentioned some benefits of gamification in general, but what matters here is how it can help the learning process when you’re mastering your target language.
So let’s go over how a more gentle approach to gamification in language learning apps can lead to great results.
1. Stress-Free Progress
As we’ve said, an important difference between “hard” gamification and a more gentle one is the approach to pressure. Some gamified language learning apps can really stress you out by insisting you keep that streak and make you think you have to be better than everyone else and rank higher on the leaderboard.
The truth is, no one is better at language learning. Every student has a different approach, different objectives, and different learning styles. That’s why a gentle nudge can sometimes be much more effective than a hard push.
Ling offers the flexibility to keep a streak or study without keeping a streak. We also offer the handy Streak Saver feature, in case you ever miss a day and risk losing your streak. No stress, no pressure, just learning at your own pace!
2. Learn At Your Own Pace, Not Rushed By The App
One of the reasons language learning apps have become so popular is that they offer quick lessons. Not everyone has the time to sit down and study for an hour, but many are willing to do a 10-minute lesson every day.
That option to self-pace your learning attracts many users, and while being consistent is absolutely essential if you want to learn a language, sometimes we’re just busy that day!
3. User-Friendliness
A gamified learning approach often results in a more user-friendly interface. Learning paths are clear, mistakes are highlighted clearly, and friendly mascots like the Ling monkey guide you along the way.
This added benefit can really help with language learning; figuring out how the new language’s grammar works is hard enough on its own, no need to figure out how the app works as well!
4. Optional Gamification Elements
An essential aspect of gentle gamification in language apps is that the game-like elements are optional. You’ll probably still get points and achievements, and hear a motivational chime when completing lessons, but streaks and leaderboards are always an option.
I’ll be honest here, I can never keep my streak when I’m learning Japanese on the Ling app. And I never even look at the leaderboards. Of course, I’d love to practice every day, but since my goal isn’t total fluency, I’m happy with doing a lesson every few days, and the app doesn’t penalize me or make me feel bad for it, which is why I love this app.
5. Encouragement Through Progress Tracking
Seeing how far you’ve come can be a great motivator. That’s why it’s a feature not only in language apps, but on fitness and wellness apps as well.
And it’s not just seeing how many days you’ve kept your streak, or how many points you have (although that helps, of course!). The review section in the Ling app, for example, lets you see all the words and phrases you’ve learned.
Seeing how much you’ve learned after a few weeks and realizing you can actually have an (albeit short) conversation in your target language in the real world can really push you to keep learning.
6. Achievable Goals
One of the best practices for learning a language is to set goals you can actually achieve. If you try to learn everything at once and really fast, it’s likely you’ll burn out and lose motivation.
Gentle gamification in language apps gives you achievable goals, like completing one short lesson per day, to make sure you stay motivated in the long run and don’t give up halfway.
7. Positive Feedback
As I mentioned above, positive reinforcement can lead to changes in behavior. Completing a task and getting a reward, even if it’s just a little digital medal and a bell sound, can help you come back the next day for more.
The three crowns you get when you finish a lesson without mistakes on the Ling app can really help. They motivate you to pay more attention and take your time before you complete the exercises. But as this is gentle gamification, there’s no actual pressure. Getting two crowns, or even one, is perfectly acceptable. And you can always come back and do the lesson again!
Why The Ling App’s Approach To Gamification Is Good For Serious Learners
The Ling app aims to make learning languages fun. As such, it incorporates many gamified elements like streaks, Banana Points, achievements, leaderboards, and more. Even more so, some of the exercises in the lessons are actually games, like matching the cards and filling in the blanks in dialogues.
But it’s a gentle approach. The idea is to help users stay motivated and make coming back on the next day for another lesson an appealing prospect. It’s not about putting so much pressure that learners get overwhelmed. As I said, learning a new language can be stressful sometimes, and that’s precisely what Ling seeks to avoid.
What You Can Learn In 7 Days With The Ling App
If you’re looking for a game-based language learning app that motivates you to learn, but with a gentle nudge instead of a hard push, try out the Ling app. You can use the 7-day free trial to start your learning journey, explore the app’s features, and see if our approach works for you.
Here’s what you can learn by doing one lesson per day for a week. Although if you dedicate more time, you can learn a lot more!
| Day | What You Can Learn |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Basic words and phrases |
| Day 2 | Basic sentences |
| Day 3 | Numbers and family |
| Day 4 | Counting |
| Day 5 | Activities |
| Day 6 | Food and tastes |
| Day 7 | Vegetables and fruits |
Real Results From Real Learners
When it comes to apps, it’s always good to find out what users are saying before making a decision. So let’s go over a few reviews taken directly from Google Play:
“User friendly, easy to use, with diverse languages to learn from, interesting games to test your knowledge and lots more. Awesome app👌”
★★★★★
Omotayo Olunuga
“I have a lot of trouble learning languages and focusing, this is the only app that makes both of these things easy. It feels like a game and is very easy to follow along with in small modules that I do for 5 minutes at the start of each day. It also has a huge list of languages that you won’t find on other apps. Highly recommend!”
★★★★★
Isaac Shaha
“I am trying to teach myself Japanese. I really wish I found this app earlier. The many games are fun. App is simple to use. I will be purchasing the lifetime subscription in the very near future.
I highly recommend this app.”
★★★★★
Josh Jackson
Frequently Asked Questions About Gentle Gamification In Language Apps
What Is The Best Gamified Language App?
The best gamified language app truly depends on the user’s preferences, goals, and time. It’s best to try a few of them and see how they work; there are many on the market. That said, for a gentle approach to gamification that keeps you motivated without an overwhelming amount of pressure, the Ling app is an excellent option.
How Can I Make Learning A Language Fun?
A great way to make learning a language fun is to use a gamified language app. These apps incorporate game elements like points, leaderboards, streaks, and progress trackers to keep you motivated. They take a much more interactive approach to learning than traditional methods. Several even incorporate actual language games into the lessons, like filling in the blanks and matching cards.
Is Gamification Good Or Bad?
Gamification isn’t good or bad in itself; it’s a tool, so what matters is what you use it for. It can be a great way to turn an overwhelming goal, like learning a language or having a more fit lifestyle, into something more manageable. On the other hand, if used too harshly, it can sometimes create excessive pressure and lead to stress and loss of motivation. What matters is finding an approach that works for you. And if you prefer to avoid gamification and stick to more traditional methods, that’s fine as well!
Learn A New Language And Make It Fun With The Ling App!
We’ve gone over how gentle gamification in language apps can turn the sometimes overwhelming task of learning a language into something much more manageable.
And that’s why the Ling app takes this approach. The idea is to make the learning experience fun and engaging, with rewards and daily reminders that help you stay on track, but without creating overwhelming pressure.
So give it a try. You can download the app and use the 7-day free trial to see how our teaching style fits your needs. We’re confident you’re gonna love it. After all, what’s not to love about turning language learning into a fun and relaxing game?
