This document discusses how the popular sandbox video game Minecraft can be used for language learning. It notes that Minecraft has no rules or limits, its simplistic gameplay appeals to young learners, and that online resources for the game are mostly in English. Examples are given of how students have used Minecraft to recreate stories read in class, design structures, share facts about animals and the natural world, and create "How to" guides.

1. Minecraft and Language Learning
An ELT Sandbox presentation for the 7th Virtual Round Table Web
Conference, April 27th, 2014

2. What is Minecraft?
 One of the biggest
selling (indie) games of
all time
 A game about breaking
and placing blocks
 ‘Digital Lego’
 The ultimate open
world sandbox game

3. How can Minecraft be useful for
(language) learning?
 It has no rules and
no limits
 Simplistic gameplay
appeals to YLs…
 …as does the
opportunity for
creativity
 Online resources
(YouTube
videos, forums, guid
es…) mostly in
English.

4. Let me tell you a story…

5. Let my students tell you a
story…

6. Let my students tell you a
story…

7. Let my students tell you a
story…

8. Let my students tell you a
story…

9. Let my students tell you a
story…

10. Let my students tell you a
story…

11. The Treehouse Tour

12. Redeveloping Atakule

13. And there’s more….
 Information about
volcanoes
 Retelling a story
read in class
 Recreating and
designing structures

14. And there’s more….
 Facts about different
animals
 Showing the natural
world
 ‘How to…’ guides

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