When thinking about video games as tools for teaching English, horror might not be the first genre that comes to mind. Yet, in a fifth-grade class in Niigata prefecture, students have been using the demo of P.T. as a language-learning resource. This innovative approach not only engages students but also incorporates real-life conversational phrases, like “answering the phone” and “walking around the room,” which they used to guide the game’s character.

The lesson was conducted in English by an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT), with students making choices on the character’s actions, whether entering a room or interacting with different objects. The simplicity of P.T., featuring everyday items like phones and doors, makes it ideal for this kind of learning experience.

Interestingly, some students expressed surprise at the sudden ringing of a phone in the game, showcasing how immersed they became. As most English textbooks focus on formal usage, integrating video games like this is a clever way to teach casual conversation. Plus, there’s no better feeling than engaging students by bringing a game into the classroom. Reflecting on this practice, I can’t help but envy those students, as playing P.T. in school would have been a dream come true.