Language Hunting Proficiency Scale

Community Language Hunting

Updated MARCH 2012

This document contains a detailed road-map for acquiring a high-level of proficiency in Language Hunting. It goes into specifics of particular techniques that are accurate as of the above date.

Because the LH system is subject to constant improvement and innovation, focus on the over-all arc of a player’s proficiency at the various levels. Details may change, but the arc should remain stable. Note that this is an “appreciative” scale; it describes what players can do. The exception to this is at the Novice level, where there are key decelerating behaviors, things new players do that slow or inhibit full game play, that provide vital information to game leaders. These decelerator behaviors are always in italics, for clarity.

Novice

The Novice-level player is characterized by their enthusiasm for the target language, a willingness to show up for game events, and institutional habits and expectations for language acquisition.

Novice-low

  • Generally displays interest and enthusiasm in target language, without wielding techniques
  • Displays paper face during game play
  • KILLS FAIRIES by requesting specific language in mother tongue (i.e. using English to ask for Spanish words or language structure), beyond the initial TRADING GAME stages of language acquisition
  • Request for language not tied to physical environment or props
  • Hands usually on lap or table
  • Relies on pen and paper for note taking during games
  • Ascribes positive or negative values to differing accents or dialects. Uninterested in conversations in “incorrect” language (other accents or dialects)

Novice-mid

  • Requests language for new props, usually not OBVIOUSLY! in nature (multicolored pens, complex tangled key rings, etc.)
  • Spontaneously wields techniques HOW FASCINATING! and FULL for themselves at least once per session
  • Wields techniques START OVER, START AT THE BEGINNING
  • Consistent requests to expand scope of conversation
  • Relies on pen and paper for note taking during game nights
  • Relies on dictionaries and language texts in the presence of available fluent speakers
  • Plays up to WHAT IS THAT? in sign
  • When involved in a AHA!/RIDDLE-ME-THIS set-up, translates language into English for confirmation
  • Has active facial expressions and inflections
  • Begins to re-initiate CONVERSATIONS 
  • Begins language transactions by referring to props on hand
  • Begins to speak/sign in FULL SENTENCES
  • Begins to SET-UP CONVERSATIONS

Novice-high

  • Intermittent requests to expand scope of conversation (as opposed to wielding LIMIT)
  • Watches conversations taking place without ANGELING (aka PEANUT GALLERY), COPY-CATS intermittently
  • Wields techniques HOW FASCINATING and FULL several times per session, for themselves or others
  • Wields TRAVELS WITH CHARLIE technique confidently—understands the road map of language proficiency and can pass it on
  • Pursues BUBBLING-UP of language proficiency through iterative play, rather than memorization—no longer using pen and paper for documenting conversation
  • Plays up to TRADING GAME in sign
  • Spontaneously begins games by asking WHAT IS THAT?
  • Begins to carry props with them
  • Wields technique LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED intermittently
  • Assists with FEED YOUR MIND

Intermediate

The Intermediate-level player is able to teach a small group to play the game over a period of 1-2 hours.

Intermediate-low

  • Calls SORRY, CHARLIE on themselves and others when appropriate
  • Calls LIMIT when conversational scope expands beyond obviously!
  • Calls OBVIOUSLY! when ambiguous props or situations appear
  • Sets-up THE LOTUS and TRADING GAME conversation
  • TEACH A TEACHER: has taught someone to lead WHAT IS THAT? conversation
  • COPY-CATS consistently
  • Asks for new language in LINKED LISTS
  • Spontaneously identifies specific player in INNER CIRCLE to help, and PULLS THEM THROUGH IT, with some PEANUT GALLERY
  • They READY MY LIPS as a helper to their own COPY-CATTING
  • Consistently checks-in if other players are FULL
  • Contributed to the innovation and CONTRACTING of a new RULE
  • Intermittently acquires new language through AHA!
  • Wields technique ACCENT well: seeks live language from fluent speakers, sees value in all accents and dialects. Hunts the available accent or dialect of the target language, though resists playing in languages other than desired target language
  • Intermittently initiates FEED YOUR MIND

Intermediate-mid

  • Spontaneously and consistently identifies specific player in INNER CIRCLE to help, and PULLS THEM THROUGH IT
  • Sets-up OBVIOUSLY! new CONVERSATION with LIMITED props, etc. Uses accelerators such as neutral tablecloths
  • OCD: Asks for improved SET-UPS from other players who are language hunting or designing a new CONVERSATION, when needed
  • Consistently wields START AT THE BEGINNING effectively
  • Has taught someone to lead a game through TRADING GAME, consistently raising level of conversation they can teach someone to lead
  • BUCKET BRIGADE: Consistently SHEEPDOGS players they have taught to lead games, up to TRADING GAME
  • Spontaneously but intermittently wields POINT TO YOUR ANGELS
  • Spontaneously innovated a new RULE, whether or not it stands the test of time
  • Consistently acquires new language through AHA!
  • Consistently wields KILLING FAIRIES and AHA! on other players
  • Has led THE WALK
  • Accepts play in any language
  • Regularly initiates FEED YOUR MIND
  • Keeps us posted

Intermediate-high

  • Consistently engages EXTENDED FAMILY with POINT TO  YOUR ANGELS when needed
  • Uses PAIRING, BUCKET BRIGADE and LOTUS as appropriate, in different contexts
  • Wields NO-PRESSURE REFRESHER effectively
  • Wields FEED YOUR MIND intermittently
  • Has hunted WHAT'S THAT? in another new target language
  • Actively hunts language they have no personal investment in
  • Sets-up and manages multiple conversations led by other players
  • BUCKET BRIGADE: Has taught another player to lead THE WALK
  • Spontaneously runs WHAT/SO WHAT/NOW WHAT (NO-GRIEF DEBRIEF)
  • Consistently FEEDS YOUR MIND at LANGUAGE NIGHT-scale
  • Invites newbies to the EXTENDED FAMILY

Advanced

The Advanced-level player is able to host a small event (3-4 hours, for example a language night or demonstration day), organize and delegate to an array of game leaders who are teaching new players to play the game.

Advanced-low

  • Sets-up and manages a game night
  • Constructs an effective MEADOW at LANGUAGE NIGHT-scale
  • Employs 10 FEET when possible
  • Consistent application of FEED YOUR MIND
  • Schedules/delegates THE LOTUS, PAIRING, and THE WALK on the fly (JUST IN TIME), according to the needs of the group
  • Organizes and delegates FEED YOUR MIND consistently
  • Consistently assists LANGUAGE NIGHT-scale NO-GRIEF DEBRIEF

Advanced-mid

  • BUCKET BRIGADE: has taught another player to lead their own language night
  • Organizes and delegates LANGUAGE NIGHT scale NO-GRIEF DEBRIEF
  • BUCKET BRIGADE: Has taught other players to manage multiple conversations (led by others), at multiple proficiency levels, and consistently delegates this during language nights

Advanced-high

  • Has constructed a MEADOW on a weekend-scale
  • Has set-up SPEED DATING/ONE-MINUTE LANGUAGE HUNT
  • Has assisted in set-up of FEED YOUR MIND at a weekend-scale
  • Assists with LANGUAGE WEEKEND-scale debriefs of activities such as TEA WITH GRANDMA and SPEED DATING

Superior

The Superior-level player is able to host a large scale event (2-3 days, usually an overnight weekend) and organize and delegate to an array of game leaders who are teaching new players to play the game. The player finds roles for Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced players within the event, making sure that all players are moving up the scale of proficiency (SHEEP-DOGGING, BUCKET BRIGADE). This means Novice players are learning to teach others to lead games, Intermediate players are learning to lead language nights, and Advanced players are learning to run language weekends.

  • Organizes and delegates FEED YOUR MIND on a weekend-scale
  • Facilitates TEA WITH GRANDMA, from attendee-driven creation of the set-up to attendee-chosen language to hunt, through role-play (including grandma’s table and support team’s game tables), mid-way debrief, and ending debrief
  • Facilitates ONE-MINUTE LANGUAGE HUNT/SPEED DATING, with mid-way and ending debriefs