• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • CommentGo Back
Download
 
Virtual world language learning
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Language learning is the most widespread type of education in virtual worlds
[1]
, withmany universities, mainstream language institutes and private language schools using 3Dvirtual environments to support language learning.
Contents
1 History2 Virtual Worlds and 3D Online Environments3 Pedagogies and Activities in Virtual Worlds3.1 Constructivist approaches3.2 Task-based language learning3.3 Dogme language teaching3.4 Six Learnings Framework 4 Approaches to Language Education in Virtual Worlds5 Owning and Using Land in Virtual Worlds5.1 Holodecks5.2 Language Villages5.3 Building and Object Creation5.4 Public Spaces5.5 Virtual Tourism5.6 WebQuests6 Use of Voice7 Events8 Communities9 Research Projects10 Beyond Virtual Worlds10.1 Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs)10.2 Synthetic Immersive Environments (SIEs)10.3 Augmented Reality Language Learning (ARLL)11 Resources
irtual world language learning - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Virtual_world_language_learn...1 of 116/27/2009 11:39 AM
 
12 References
History
Although 2007 saw the first large-scale language school LanguageLab(http://www.languagelab.com) to open its doors in a virtual world
[2]
, projects to usevirtual worlds such as Active Worlds had already preceded it.
[3]
Many universities (such as Monash University) and mainstream language institutes (suchas British Council, Confucius Institute, Instituto Cervantes and Goethe Institut) haveislands in Second Life specifically for language learning.As 3D virtual worlds become more complex in the future, they will offer differentopportunities for language education. Already, Augmented Reality offers a merging of virtual worlds, real life and mobile learning and it is being explored by language educatorsas a future path for virtual world language education.
[4]
Virtual Worlds and 3D Online Environments
Both 3D virtual worlds (such as Second Life) and 3D virtual environments (such asGoogle Lively or Hangout.net) can be used for 3D online language learning. Almost allsuch language learning projects make use of general virtual worlds that are intended for social networking (rather than for language education). However, there are more recentexamples of creating virtual worlds specifically for language education.Since 2005 Second Life has been the main focus of language education using virtualworlds. This has been largely due to the flexibility offered by Second Life, especially withthe opportunity to own land and build educational environments in-world. However, other virtual worlds and 3D online spaces have been used as language learning tools. Twinityreplicates the real life city of Berlin (other cities such as Singapore and London to follow)and offers language learners virtual locations with specific languages being spoken. Someislands in Second Life also have language or culture specific communities that may allowlanguage learners easy ways to practice a foreign language.
[5]
There.com also offerslanguage learning opportunities
[6]
Browser-based 3D environments such as ExitReality offer 3D spaces for social learning
irtual world language learning - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Virtual_world_language_learn...2 of 116/27/2009 11:39 AM
 
or, in the case of Google Street View and Google Earth
[7]
immersive learning.There are virtual worlds, such as Zon and Wiz World that have been specifically designedfor language learning and may be considered to be SIEs (Synthetic ImmersiveEnvironments).
Pedagogies and Activities in Virtual Worlds
As virtual worlds offer social and immersive experiences, the main pedagogical focuseshave been with constructivist educational approaches. Task-based language learning has been commonly applied to virtual world language education.
[8]
Dogme methods that drawon the ability to stimulate conversation and communication for language emergence havealso been used to guide language learning activities.
Constructivist approaches
3D virtual worlds are often used for constructivist learning because of the opportunitiesfor learners to explore, collaborate and be immersed within an environment of their choice. Some virtual worlds allow users to build objects and to change the appearance of their avatar and of their surroundings.
[9]
. Constructivist approaches such as task-basedlearning and Dogme are applied to virtual world language learning because of the scopefor learners to socially co-construct knowledge, in spheres of particular relevance to thelearner.
Task-based language learning
Task-based language learning (TBL) focuses on the use of authentic language andencourages students to do real life tasks using the language being learned. Tasks can behighly transactional, where the student is carrying out everyday tasks such as visiting thedoctor at the Chinese island of Monash University (in Second Life). Incidental knowledge(about the medical system in China) can also be gained through such immersive TBL.Other tasks may focus on more interactional language, such as ones that involve moresocial activities or interviews within a virtual world.
Dogme language teaching
The term Dogme 2.0 refers to the application of Dogme principles to teaching andlearning languages with web 2.0 tools, including virtual worlds. Dogme has been
irtual world language learning - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Virtual_world_language_learn...3 of 116/27/2009 11:39 AM
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...