Rising Polyglot Grades: learning languages through story, imagination and missions

Learning a new language often feels like hard work, but what if it could feel like playing and stepping into an imaginary world? That’s exactly what Rising Polyglot Grades was created for. 

Developed by the Sosped Foundation with support from Fryshuset, this KA2 Erasmus+ project transforms language learning into an immersive, story-driven adventure. Instead of focusing on grammar rules or vocabulary lists, players learn by having fun, communicating, and creating. 

A new way to learn 

The project started by understanding young people’s needs and gaps while learning new languages and by exploring different methodologies, includingactive participation and role play. 

The result? An immersive journey where players build characters, explore fantasy worlds, and solve challenges using language as their main tool. The game is designed so that users hardly realize they are learning; they are simply immersed in a story where communication drives the plot forward. 

Participants can play it alone or with others, making the game flexible for different contexts, such as classrooms, youth groups, or language cafés. 

From idea to game  

The project unfolded in three key stages: 

• Phase 1: Research and concept development. The team gathered insights from young people and analyzed learning methodologies. 

• Phase 2: Game creation and testing. The first version was piloted in Helsinki during a two-day session where participants tested the game and provided feedback. Based on that, the team refined the concept and organized the content into small booklets. 

• Phase 3: Final design and production. The materials were completed and made available in English, Swedish, and Finnish ,so that anyone can use them to learn any language. 

What you will find inside  

The Rising Polyglot Grades package includes: 

• A guidebook. 

• Storyline booklets. 

• Illustrated maps, point tracker and skill check sheets. 

• “Build your character” papers. 

All materials are available on Discord or in printable format via the project’s official website.

Looking ahead 

The team has applied for an extension to continue developing the project further, including exploring a digital version to make the game even more accessible. 

By combining creativity, storytelling, and collaboration, Rising Polyglot Grades is redefining what it means to learn a language. It’s not just about words and grammar, it’s about stepping into a world where learning happens naturally, through play and connection.

 

Text: Eleonora Ventura