Odaminodaa: Let’s Play – Games as a Path to Language Learning
Indspire > Events > National Gathering > Presentations > Odaminodaa: Let’s Play – Games as a Path to Language LearningPresented by Shyla Niemi
Learning a new language can be scary. For Indigenous learners, that fear carries extra weight. There is guilt for not already knowing and shame for mispronouncing in front of speakers. These are barriers that can stop people before they even start learning. Games change that. When you are focused on winning, you stop monitoring yourself for mistakes. Failure becomes information instead of evidence of not belonging. This principle can be used in Indigenous language learning contexts, where the emotional stakes are high and where accessible, speaker-independent tools are needed. This session explores how game-based learning applies to Indigenous language revitalization. Drawing on game-based learning research and direct experience developing Indigenous language programming, presenter Shyla Niemi walks through what makes games effective for language engagement and how educators can apply these principles in their own classrooms. The session includes a live demonstration of a digital language companion built for an Anishinaabemowin card game. The companion hosts translations, audio from a fluent speaker, and difficulty modifiers to make gameplay scalable across different ages and fluency levels. The game was designed for classrooms without a language teacher present, making it practical for substitutes, cultural programming days, and reentry activities after long breaks.
Educators will leave with concrete ideas for using game-based tools in language and cultural programming, and at least one activity for bringing Indigenous languages into their classroom.
Short video of me presenting:
Digital Companion
