Virtual world language learning: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 22:31, 23 July 2009

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==History==

2005 saw the first large-scale language school [http://www.languagelab.com Languagelab.com] 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>. Since then it has invested more than $2m in research and development, projectsconducting a beta program involving students from more than 50 countries.

Projects to use virtual worlds such as Active Worlds had alreadytaken place before preceded it[http://www.languagelab.com Languagelab.com]. <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.