In Japan, English lessons appear to have gotten a lot scarier for some students. No, we are not talking about grammar, but about Hideo Kojima’s legendary horror demo for the cancelled Silent Hills PT game. According to a report from Automaton, Tsunan Secondary School’s official blog says that an assistant language teacher decided to use the famous PT demo as a classroom activity. The idea was simple: progress through the haunted hallway entirely in English.
SurveyAlso read: Before Silent Hill f, Silent Hill PT and other games we never got to play
Silent Hill PT turns English tutor for Japanese students
The report further added that during the session, fifth-year students were prompted to give commands in English to guide the player through the game. When the teacher paused the demo, students had to say phrases like “walk around the room,” “look in the mirror,” or “answer the phone” to continue.
Of course, P.T. being P.T., this wasn’t easy. Several students were reportedly startled by the sudden ringing of the in-game telephone and the ghostly appearances that followed. As the blog noted, the jump scares might have helped them “remember English phrases better”.
A haunted piece of gaming history lives on
It’s been more than a decade since Kojima Productions released P.T., an interactive teaser meant to introduce Silent Hills before its cancellation. The demo was removed from the PlayStation Store in 2015, but its impact hasn’t faded. Many modern horror titles, including Resident Evil 7 and Layers of Fear, have drawn inspiration from its first-person dread and looping corridor design.
Even Death Stranding: Director’s Cut and the upcoming Return to Silent Hill film have paid subtle homage to P.T., cementing its reputation as one of gaming’s most influential demos. Now, it seems P.T. has found an entirely new afterlife – as an unlikely English tutor.
While the thought of learning English through one of the scariest games ever made might sound like a nightmare, it’s also a brilliant example of creative teaching. Interactive learning, emotional engagement, and a touch of adrenaline may be the perfect formula to make lessons stick.
And considering P.T. is no longer available to download, these students are not just improving their language skills but are experiencing a rare piece of gaming history. Now, there’s a class you’d never want to skip!
Also read: Silent Hill f review: Every horror video game lover’s nightmare just got real
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Divyanshi Sharma
Divyanshi Sharma is a media and communications professional with over 8 years of experience in the industry. With a strong background in tech journalism, she has covered everything from the latest gadgets to gaming trends and brings a sharp editorial lens to every story. She holds a master’s diploma in mass communication and a bachelor’s degree in English literature. Her love for writing and gaming began early—often skipping classes to try out the latest titles—which naturally evolved into a career at the intersection of technology and storytelling. When she’s not working, you’ll likely find her exploring virtual worlds on her console or PC, or testing out a new laptop she managed to get her hands on. View Full Profile
