Human beings love playing games, but have you ever considered your daily speech acts as a series of games? When learning a new language, your experience will be totally different if you can pay more attention to communicative strategies and learn to anticipate what you might hear from your interlocutor. Cong Li is an innovative educator and researcher at Duke Kunshan University, specializing in language acquisition and curriculum development. His work focuses on integrating game mechanics—such as points, challenges, and rewards—into language learning to boost motivation and enhance retention. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx