August 31, 2018

For over a decade teachers have been seeking to supplement their curricula with compelling and meaningful technology. In recent years, a surge of K-12 Latin teachers having been trying to find ways to discuss culture in the target language. This paper will describe an innovative way to combine the vastly played video game Minecraft with Latin classroom culture needs using technology and second language acquisition methods. The author will elaborate on some of the theoretical underpinnings of CI (Comprehensible Input) and TPRS (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling) and discuss the central reasons for using Minecraft as the medium to deliver information in the target language. He will discuss researching the targeted cultural piece, creating it in the virtual space afforded by Minecraft, the process of creating the script in the target language and finally the production of the video. The author will present some of the best practices for implementation in class along with some accompanying activities, and will conclude with tips and cautions for the recreation of this pedagogical method.