How can we use serious games in L2 classroom ?

At present, I have played a serious game called Third World Farmer . I have played it for 5 times. In the game, you mainly plant things on the ground. You can choose what you want to plant in the upper left hand menu, such as cotton, wheat and peanuts and you can raise pigs, cattle and chicken. In addition, you can construct wells, sheds and barns.

       There are several learning language objectives for the game. At first, you can lean vocabulary related for farming, such as wheat, cotton, barn and cattle. Secondly, students can review name of 12 months because after you plant crops, 12 months would show on the screen means that a year has passed and you can harvest. Thirdly, students can practice reading in the game. For example, in the result of harvest, there is an event happened this year. For instance, crash of the national bank: although this year’s outcome from your farm was rather promising, a crash of the national bank unsettles the market in your disfavor. Students can practice reading as well as learn some background knowledge about farming.

       As for assessment, I would present pictures of crops to students and ask them to write the name according to the pictures. Furthermore, I can design some comprehension questions for them in order to assess them whether they understand “the events happened this year”.