Cultural Awareness Games
Games to Help Immigrants Understand American Culture
Please Note: Although my master's project is finished, these games can still be improved. For example, the "Importance of Being on Time" game needs more work - I feel it does not adequately explain how Americans feel about time. Please feel free to submit comments and suggestions about any of the games, and I will continue to work on them.
#1 - American Holidays
A Flash puzzle game to learn about 12 official and unofficial American holidays. The game provides facts, images, entertaining music, and an option to have the text read aloud. Written and video-graphical instructions are included.
#2 - Budgeting
A lesson and game about budgeting. The Flash program includes a lesson on why and how to create budgets, a game, and a short video that explains how to play the game. Text is provided, along with audio of the "teacher" reading the text. This is version 2 and is not the same as version 1.
#3 - American Customs
Four levels of match-pair card games similar to "Memory" and "Concentration." Each pair of cards represents a particular American custom and an explanation of that custom is provided when the match is made. Users can review the topics at any time.
#4 - Using Google Maps
A Flash lesson and game on how to use Google Maps, with how-to videos. The text is currently in English, Spanish, French, Kiswahili, Russian and Vietnamese. Translators are needed for other languages, especially Karen, Burmese and Nepali. Please go to the game web page for more information.
#5 - American States
A Flash puzzle game where the user is given a route (Michigan to Florida, for example) and needs to drag and click state puzzle pieces into their correct spots on the map.
#6 - The Importance of Being on Time
A Flash "platform" style game with a short explanation on why most Americans feel that "time is money." The lesson and game stress that it is important to arrive on time to appointments, meetings, job interviews, work, classes, and most other events. Includes optional voice narration.