Enabling Multilingual Social Interactions and Fostering Language Learning in Virtual Worlds

2011 ◽  
pp. 665-685
Author(s):  
Samuel Cruz-Lara ◽  
Tarik Osswald ◽  
Jean-Pierre Camal ◽  
Nadia Bellalem ◽  
Lotfi Bellalem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Global Perspective

In order to enhance interoperability between virtual worlds, applications, and corpora, it is obvious that standards should come into place. This is the main goal of MLIF and, on a more global perspective, of the Metaverse1 project. In this paper, we study social interactions in virtual worlds, present some cues to facilitate them, and describe the empirical support that we developed for these theories. We also present a few methods for fostering language learning in virtual worlds, and we explain how we have implemented some of them.

scholarly journals The Griefer and the Stalker: Disruptive Actors in a Second Life Educational Community

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Paul Lafayette DuQuette
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Community ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Second Life ◽  
Virtual World ◽  
English Language ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Fear And Anxiety

Linden Lab’s Second Life (SL) is well-known for its hands-off approach to user conflict-resolution. Although users are given tools to mute and block individual accounts as well as ban undesirable avatars from user-owned land, that does not prevent determined, malicious users from disrupting communities and harassing individuals. This case study focuses on two such malicious users exemplary of two specific types of malevolent virtual world actors: in-world griefers and online stalkers. As part of a decade-long ethnographic research project within the Cypris Chat English language learning community in SL, this paper utilizes data gleaned from notes on participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and first-hand encounters. It categorizes the disparate strategies these individuals have used over the years in their attempts to disrupt group cohesion, sow distrust between students and teachers, humiliate individuals, and foment an atmosphere of fear and anxiety. It then reviews the methods community members used to defend themselves from such attacks and analyzes the efficacy of these strategies. This study builds on our understanding of harassment in virtual worlds and acts as a cautionary tale for future virtual world educators and community leaders considering the development of their own online classes and groups.

The Use of Virtual Worlds in Foreign Language Teaching and Learning

2019 ◽  
pp. 1949-1972
Author(s):  
Ellen Yeh ◽  
Guofang Wan
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Dynamic Environment ◽  
Foreign Language Teaching ◽  
Learning Instruction ◽  
Language Teaching And Learning

This book chapter presents, a review of the literature from 2004-2014 regarding the various models of virtual worlds used in foreign language teaching and learning, the impact of virtual world learning environments and the implications of language teaching. The study being reported aims to address the following questions: (1) What are the models of virtual worlds used in language learning instruction in K-12 and higher education; (2) How do VWLEs impact language learning in terms of motivation, communicative competency, intercultural competency, collaborative competency, constructivist learning, and sociocultural competency; and (3) What are the implications of using VWLEs in foreign language teaching and learning? Results indicate that social context and task-based learning enhanced language learners' participation and motivations. Findings also indicate that consistent use of interactional strategies encouraged learners to engage in the tasks and stay motivated. The study suggested that a VWLE offers a motivating, engaging, and multi-dynamic environment for language learners.

A Comparative Study of Platforms for Multi-User Virtual Environments

2011 ◽  
pp. 137-170
Author(s):  
Arda Tezcan ◽  
Debbie Richards
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Real World ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Fields Of Study ◽  
The Right ◽  
Minimal Effort

Multi-User Virtual Environments (MUVEs) have been found to be engaging and provide an environment in which the elements of discovery, exploration and concept testing, fundamental to the field of science, can be experienced. Furthermore, MUVEs accommodate lifelike experiences with the benefit of the situated and distributed nature of cognition; they also provide virtual worlds to simulate the conditions that are not doable or practicable under real world circumstances making them very relevant to many other fields of study such as history, geography and foreign language learning. However, constructing MUVEs can be expensive and time consuming depending on the platform considered. Therefore, providing the most appropriate platform that requires minimal effort, cost and time will make MUVE deployment in the classroom faster and more viable. In this chapter, the authors provide a comparative study of prominent existing platforms for MUVEs that can be used to identify the right balance of functionality, flexibility, effort and cost for a given educational and technical context. A number of metrics are identified, described and used to enable the comparison. Platform assessment was done in four main metric groups: communication and interaction, characters, features and education. Communication and interaction metrics are used to assess how the communication and interaction is done within the examined platform. Character metrics are employed to measure avatar and agent affordances. Features metrics are defined to compare what the platform offers in terms of technology. Lastly, education metrics are used to identify the value of the associated platform for educational purposes.

The Use of Avatars and Virtual Worlds for Learning

2011 ◽  
pp. 234-261
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Learning Experiences ◽  
Collaborative Virtual Environments

Virtual environments (VEs) can be immersive (IVE) or collaborative (CVE). Networked collaborative virtual environments (NCVEs) connect participants in real time via a network. Each type of VE presents opportunities to use different combinations of technologies to design engaging learning experiences, especially using avatars. Avatars are used as forms of self-representation for students as well as instructors. Anonymity enables users to alter their identities and interact in new ways through transformed social interactions. Advancements in technology continue to humanize avatars, thus changing their role in the VE and also changing the role of the instructor.

Technology Enhanced Language Learning in Virtual Worlds

2012 ◽  
pp. 293-309
Author(s):  
Tosti H.C. Chiang ◽  
Tom T.C. Tsai ◽  
Irene Y.S. Li ◽  
Indy Y.T. Hsiao ◽  
Stephen J.H. Yang
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Training And Development ◽  
Digital Learning ◽  
Virtual Classrooms ◽  
Global Networks ◽  
Internet Learning ◽  
American Society ◽  
Compact Disks

The application of Information Technology makes distance learning possible. Teachers can teach students who live in another side of the globe via Internet. They can see each others’ images and hear each others’ voices, which could not be done twenty years ago, through Internet. With the development of Internet, students can learn without the limitations of time and space. American Society for Training and Development proposed that digital learning includes learning through Internet, learning by computers, learning in virtual classrooms, and digital cooperation. The digitalized course contents can be transmitted via Internet, local or global networks, audio books, videotapes, satellite, interactive televisions, and compact disks.

Virtual worlds and language learning

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabela Melchor-Couto
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Teacher Perceptions ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Affective Variables ◽  
One Step ◽  
The Eu

Technology has made an invaluable contribution to foreign language (FL) teaching, particularly so in recent years. The advanced technical capabilities offered by digital games, including voice and text chat, take the use of computer-mediated communication in language learning one step further, allowing for remote, anonymous and situated learner interaction. This article presents an overview on how virtual worlds (VWs) are being used for educational purposes and for FL teaching in particular. A literature review on existing research has been included, covering areas such as FL interaction, impact on affective variables and attitudes towards the use of these environments. Special attention will be devoted to how VW interaction may affect students’ anxiety, motivation and self-efficacy beliefs. Finally, teacher perceptions will be explored through the data collected among 179 secondary school FL teachers participating in the EU-funded TeCoLa project (‘Pedagogical differentiation through telecollaboration and gaming for intercultural and content integrated language teaching’).

scholarly journals Language Teaching in 3D Virtual Worlds with Machinima

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 20-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Thomas ◽  
Christel Schneider
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Training ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Second Life ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Training Course ◽  
Online Teacher ◽  
Online Teacher Training

This article is based on findings arising from a large, two-year EU project entitled “Creating Machinima to Enhance Online Language Learning and Teaching” (CAMELOT), which was the first to investigate the potential of machinima, a form of virtual filmmaking that uses screen captures to record activity in immersive 3D environments, for language teaching. The article examines interaction in two particular phases of the project: facilitator-novice teacher interaction in an online teacher training course which took place in Second Life and teachers' field-testing of machinima which arose from it. Examining qualitative data from interviews and screen recordings following two iterations of a 6-week online teacher training course which was designed to train novice teachers how to produce machinima and the evaluation of the field-testing, the article highlights the pitfalls teachers encountered and reinforces the argument that creating opportunities for pedagogical purposes in virtual worlds implies that teachers need to change their perspectives to take advantage of the affordances offered.

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