Virtual world language learning: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 22:04, 5 July 2009

Revision as of 00:01, 6 July 2009

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Although 2007 saw the first large-scale language school [http://www.languagelab.com LanguageLab] to open its doors in a [[virtual world]]<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Erard |title=A Boon to Second Life Language Schools: New Technology will Allow High-Quality Audio in a Virtual World |url=http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/18510/page1/?a=f |work= Technology Review |date=[[2007-04-10]] |accessdate = 2009-06-22 }}</ref>, projects to use virtual worlds such as Active Worlds had already preceded it.<ref>{{cite news |first=Charlie |last=Williams |title=Babel-M: A Virtual Environment for the Promotion of Language Learning |url=http://www.parapal-online.co.uk/prof/atmosphere_design.html |work=Parapal Online |date=[[2003-06-23]] |accessdate = 2009-06-22 }}</ref>

Many universities (such as [[Monash University]]) and mainstream language institutes (such as [[British Council]], [[Confucius Institute]], [[Instituto Cervantes]] and [[Goethe Institut]]) have islands in [[Second Life]] specifically for language learning. Professional and research organizations, such as [[EUROCALL]] and [[CALICO]] also support virtual world language learning through their activities in Scond Life.<ref>{{cite news |first=Graham |last=Davies |title=Joint CALICO/EUROCALL Virtual Worlds SIG |url=http://www.eurocall-languages.org/news/items/vwsig.html |work=EUROCALL |date=2009-04-27 |accessdate = 2009-07-05 }}</ref>

EUROCALL, a Europe-wide professional association that promotes the use of ICT in language learning and teaching, set up a headquarters on EduNation III Island in Second Life in 2007. CALICO, EUROCALL's sister organisation in the USA, set up a headquarters next door to EUROCALL's HQ in 2009. The two associations have set up a joint Virtual Worlds Special Interest Group (VW SIG) to promote language learning and teaching in Second Life:

EUROCALL: http://www.eurocall-languages.org

CALICO: http://www.calico.org

As 3D virtual worlds become more complex in the future, they will offer different opportunities for language education. Already, [[Augmented Reality]] offers a merging of virtual worlds, real life and [[mobile learning]] and it is being explored by language educators as a future path for virtual world language education. <ref>{{cite news |last=LingualGamers |title=Augmented Reality Games |url=http://www.lingualgamers.com/thesis/augmented_reality_games.html |work=Language Learning with New Media and Video Games |date=[[2007-10-09]] |accessdate = 2009-06-22}}</ref>