I’m Jake Blanchfield, CEO of Language50.
And if you hadn’t already guessed, I was engrossed in video games as a child.
I’m a Gen-Z’er, and one thing that separates us from generations prior is the prevalence of instant gratification.
Want to binge watch a TV series?
Pull it up on Netflix.
Want to watch weird videos for hours?
YouTube is a few taps away.
Want to chow down on endless pizza while you’re doing all this?
You barely have to lift a finger.
The same is true with video games. I was hooked.
While I could have been getting out there and making life-long memories, I was shut up in my room for 5, 6, 7, 8 hours at a time in front of a screen.
While playing complex video games does bring its own benefits, it’s not the same as engaging with real people out in the real world.
In fact, it was the combination of video games and engaging with real people that spawned the idea for Language50. I was just two weeks from embarking on a trip to Barcelona, where I would be hosted by a family that did not speak English, and my Spanish was … well, rusty doesn’t begin to describe it. I’d be lucky to get through a sentence without stumbling.
And then, I hit upon the idea of playing video games with someone who is bilingual. For this, I searched for hours and hours, until I found myself someone who was bilingual and would play with me. All I did to convince him to play with me, for as long as I wanted, was offering to pay him $20 an hour. It was a win-win! I was able to brush up on my Spanish and get ready for my trip – all without leaving my comfort zone while playing my favorite video game.
It was immersion at its finest, and it’s well known that immersion is the most effective way to learn a language. People who are thrown into a immersive experience where there is no other option but to speak the target language have no choice but to learn quick! Plus, it was really awesome because it was so much cheaper than a regular Spanish tutor! If I had hired a one-on-one private tutor, it would have costed me thousands, and I would have hated it, because learning Spanish the normal way is boring.
Through the Language50 platform, we can bring the same results to thousands of people around the world, and we can do it for a whole lot less money – all while teaching them the value and necessity of delayed gratification. This isn’t something they can conquer in an hour, a day, or a week, but they’ll gradually notice that they’re improving with every session. By learning a language while they’re otherwise in their comfort zone of Fortnite, they’re able to pursue and eventually accomplish a larger goal while doing something they love.
The result?
A well rounded, bilingual person in a far better position to pursue their dreams.