Casondra's Documentary Game
PRACTICE ARABIC WITH WADI RUM CAMELS—A VR LEARNING ADVENTURE
This game has 2 levels, beginner and intermediate. This page lists:- Instructions for Level 1
- Score sheets for Level 1
- Instructions for Level 2
- Score sheets for Level 2
- Player questionnaire
INSTRUCTIONS FOR STUDENTS NEW TO ARABIC
This game uses 360-degree video immersion to practice Arabic language skills. The game can be adapted to different levels of language learning.
Level 1 is for absolute beginners who are seeking a “tourist” level of learning for fun. Perhaps you are preparing for a vacation and want initial exposure to the language in a fun format. This game will help you to “get your toes wet” with Arabic and also expose you to a bit of Bedouin life!
GENERAL RULES FOR LEVELS 1, PART 1:
This is a game for teams of two people each.
Each team needs a VR headset (Google Cardboard, Oculus Rift, Vive, et cetera), so the number of teams is limited only by the number of headsets.
Each team consists of 1 player wearing the headsets, reporting observations and 1 “note taker.”
The person wearing the headset lists as many verbs, nouns, and adjectives as s/he can observe and articulate during the span of the VR experience. Meanwhile, the “note taker” records these articulations.
When the 360 video is over, the first player removes the headset to join the “note taker” in collaboration. This is where the levels diverge.
RULES FOR LEVEL 1, PART 2 (for students brand new to Arabic):
For 10 minutes, measured by a timer…
…the two-person teams work together to translate as many of their listed verbs, nouns, and adjectives as they can from their native language to Arabic.
Players may use any translation aides available, such as tourist dictionaries, Google Translate, or apps. HOWEVER, to ensure fairness, teams must agree to the same tools before the game begins.
Players stop their accumulation list, and switch to translating, when the timer goes off.
Scoring:
- Correctly translated verbs each get 3 points.
- Correctly translated nouns get 2 points.
- Correctly translated adjectives get 1 point.
- Add up translation points.
The game ends when the first team achieves 18 points to win or when the timer goes off, whichever happens first.
In the latter case, the team with the most points wins!
SUBSEQUENT ROUNDS:
Teams can play a second round (or more) by switching who wears the headsets and who serves as “note takers.”
However, subsequent rounds, players must come up with NEW nouns, verbs, and adjectives that their team has not yet used.
THE 360 VIDEO:
The 360 video lives here:
https://youtu.be/OU9sR9QXlwQ
| VERBS: English+Translation | NOUNS: English+Translation | ADJECTIVES: English+Translation | |
| POINTS: | POINTS: | POINTS: | GRAND TOTAL: |
INSTRUCTIONS FOR INTERMEDIATE ARABIC STUDENTS
This game uses 360-degree video immersion to practice Arabic language skills. The game can be adapted to different levels of language learning.
Level 2 is designed for students who have completed at least one year of college-level language study. These students know how to read and write Arabic script of course, and they have studied basic grammar rules for nouns, verbs, adjectives, possessive forms, and ildolfas (noun-adjective phrases such as, “the blue house of the professor”).
GENERAL RULES FOR LEVEL 2, PART 1:
This is a game for teams of two people each.
Each team needs a VR headset (Google Cardboard, Oculus Rift, Vive, et cetera), so the number of teams is limited only by the number of headsets.
Each team consists of 1 player wearing the headsets, reporting observations and 1 “note taker.”
The person wearing the headset lists as many verbs, nouns, and adjectives as s/he can observe and articulate during the span of the VR experience. Meanwhile, the “note taker” records these articulations.
When the 360 video is over, the first player removes the headset to join the “note taker” in collaboration. This is where the levels diverge.
RULES for LEVEL 2, PART 2 (for serious students of Arabic who have mastered basic grammar rules):
The two-person teams work together to race the clock to solve grammar problems.
Teams have 20 minutes measured by a timer.
Teams may use dictionaries, grammar guides, and other resources. HOWEVER, to ensure fairness, teams must agree to the same tools before the game begins.
GAME EXERCISES
1) For each verb listed:
a) Identify the verb form I-XI.
b) Conjugate the present tense and past tense of the verb and list the infinitive.
2) For each noun listed in your native language:
a) Translate it into Arabic using the singular, dual, and plural form (feminine).
b) Form the possessive of the noun in the nahnu (“our”) form.
3) Use any two nouns from your list that make sense together to create an ildolfa.
For example, “the sack of the camel/the camel’s sack.”
4) For each adjective listed:
a) list the feminine and the masculine form
b) list the plural form (feminine)
c) create a definitive noun-adjective phrase using the adjective (ex: the big book).
TIP: Remember all non-human plurals are treated as singular and feminine.
SCORING SYSTEM
For each complete and correct exercise:
- Verbs=15 points
- Noun exercises=10 points
- Ildolfas=5 point,
- Adjectives=3 points
The game ends when the first team reaches 100 points to win, or when the timer goes off, whichever comes first.
In the later case, the team with the most points at that time wins!
SUBSEQUENT ROUNDS:
Teams can play a second round (or more) by switching who wears the headsets and who serves as “note takers.”
However, for each subsequent round, players must come up with NEW nouns, verbs, and adjectives that no one has used in prior rounds.
THE 360 VIDEO:
The 360 video lives here:
https://youtu.be/OU9sR9QXlwQ
| VERB--English | Verb Form I-XI | Past tense conjugation | Present tense conjugation | Infinitive |
| TOTAL VERB POINTS (15 per correct set) | ||||
| NOUN-English | Noun Arabic-Singular Form | Noun Arabic- Dual Form | Noun Arabic- Plural Form (feminine) | Noun Arabic- Possessive nahnu (“our”) form |
| TOTAL NOUN POINTS (10 per correct set) | ||||
| IDOLFAS from NOUN LIST |
| TOTAL ILDOLFA POINTS (5 per correct phrase) |
| ADEJECTIVE-English | Adjective-Arabic Feminine | Adjective-Arabic Masculine | Adjective- Arabic plural (feminine) | Definitive (the) noun-adjective phrase |
| TOTALADJECTIVE POINTS (3 per correct phrase) | ||||
GRAND TOTAL OF ALL POINTS: _______________________
Wadi Rum Arabic Language Game – Player Questionnaire
What is your level of experience with Arabic?Did you play the Level 1 game or the Level 2 game?
Did you find the game challenging enough to hold your interest? Why or why not?
Did you find the game to be frustrating, barring any technical difficulties with Google Cardboard? If so, why?
Did you find this mode of language learning to be more fun than traditional methods?
If new to Arabic, did this game increase your interest in learning the language?
If new to Arabic, did you retain any Arabic words you learned? If so, which words?
If you played Level 2 as an intermediated Arabic student, did this game make grammar drills more fun? If so, how? If not, what would have improved the experience?
Is it more fun to learn a language in a social way, as this game promotes? Why or why not?
How did the time pressure and competition factor of doing language drills make you feel?
What did you learn about Wadi Rum and/or Bedouin culture?
Long video shots in the game are intended to give you a sense of the slow pace of Bedouin culture. Despite the slow pace of the video, did the shot length hold your interest?
This page has paths:
- Casondra Casondra Sobieralski