Introduction - What is the game?

Frostrune is a digital game used to ensure the basic main objectives in reading and listening to Norwegian language at level A2. The Frostrune game has been used with migrants who are learning Norwegian language for the first time. The game is used to learn about and talk about basic features from Norwegian history and the Viking Age, which also are part of the goals in Social Studies for adult immigrants:

Get acquainted with some of the important processes that have formed the basis for the emergence of modern Norway.
Be able to talk about different lifestyles, traditions, and views on religion, and about changes in these areas over time.

Let’s start - How can Frostrune help in classroom

Educational games as Frostrune can be a good complimentary to ordinary teaching methods. Students who do not learn well with traditional methods can benefit a lot with game-based learning. The use of Frostrune only need access to iPads or smartphones, and license for the game. It is easy to use and easy to implement in an ordinary educational / classroom setting. This is also a very cost-efficient tool. The game has been used within classes of 12 – 16 students at the same time. You only need access to templates / smartphones and licenses for the game.

Dive in - How to set up and use the game

Frostrune is a game that draws inspiration from Norwegian mythology and history.

As the introductory sequence informs us, the story takes place in the summer of 965 CE off the coast of Norway. You play as Liv, a 13-year-old girl who is the sole survivor of a shipwreck. You are cast away on a deserted island, which you soon find out is plagued by an ominous presence. Your mission is to unravel the mystery of the island and get rid of the unwanted spirits to deem the land habitable once again. To do so, you have to explore the different locales and solve puzzles with the help of ghosts. The game itself is an uncomplicated adventure with clear intentions that shows how simplicity combined with conviction can create wonders.

The game is divided into different scenes with written and oral information in Norwegian. Students must follow this information to advance in the game. As an introduction, the class goes through the introductory text of the game and plays the first scenes together on the big screen, so that all students understand how the game works. There is also a lot of talk about words and expressions, about the different environments we see and the time we are in. This forms a basis for the further teaching program. After a joint introduction, the students are divided into groups that play together on the iPad. The students should have different language backgrounds, so that they must use Norwegian as a common language in conversations and discussions about how to get on in the game.

During the game, they collect various objects, which provide a basis for learning words and expressions. For groups with a very low Norwegian level, a recipe is prepared for what the students should do in each scene, with simple instructions in Norwegian. This means that the game can be individually adapted to different language levels in the class. Assignments and verb lists are developed for each session, which can be used in further language teaching.

The Frostrune in Steam (steampowered.com)

You can find a complete walk trough off the game here.

Wrap-up

(Testimony from teacher: Will be filmed)

A lot of engagement from the students. Some of them found it exciting to play and learn. A few found it boring. The students learned inventory words and how to tell the directions and some adjectives. They learned something about Norse mythology. The advanced language in the game makes it difficult for new beginner learners in Norwegian to follow the game without coaching and guidance. The game demands a high-level skill in Norwegian language. A target audience in B1 and up would benefit more on this game. In a corona time point of view, I as the teacher had to be the one leading the game through Zoom

(Testimony from students: Will be filmed)

“I learned some words new words. The game had difficult vocabulary, but if I play a Norwegian game again, I maybe will remember something.”,