New Directions in CALL

Abstract

Multiuser virtual environments (MUVEs) are quickly gaining importance as tools for foreign language instruction by promoting collaboration and social presence in a lifelike 3-D environment. One of the largest and fastest growing of these MUVEs is Linden Lab's Second Life (SL). With an international membership of over 9,000,000 residents, SL is proving to be an important tool for foreign language education. This article provides an introduction to SL and examines some of the advantages and disadvantages of its use as an instructional tool for foreign language students and educators.

Enhancing L2 interaction in avatar-based virtual worlds: Student teachers' perceptions

“…Three-dimensional MUVEs have attracted notable interest from researchers and practitioners, including foreign language educators, since its inception a decade ago (Clark, 2009;Cooke-Plagwitz, 2008Kuriscak & Luke, 2009). The application of this technology to foreign language learning and teaching is in the pilot phase.…”

“…Learners of this level were thought to be motivated to learn CFL in realistic scenarios simulated in 3-D MUVEs (Chen, 2010;Cooke-Plagwitz, 2008Henderson, et al, 2012). The learners could choose to join more than one pair of teachers for tutoring.…”

“…Such experiential learning is believed to contribute to the understanding of linguistic input (Cooke-Plagwitz, 2008;Liu, 2010).…”

“…The current technology adopted in distance education predominantly involves computer-mediated communication (CMC), which allows for synchronous and asynchronous text-, audio-, or video-based communications. However, the impersonal nature of such communications may create difficulties for language learners who desire a sense of community and participation (Cooke-Plagwitz, 2008). This problem may be alleviated by the 3-D multiuser virtual environments (3-D MUVEs), which feature representational fidelity and learner interaction, two distinguishing characteristics that were identified by Dalgarno and Lee (2010).…”

Technology-Supported Storytelling (TSST) Strategy in Virtual World for Multicultural Education

“…Virtual worlds are able to promote collaborative learning and social learning community [5] [6]. Specifically three dimensional online virtual worlds within animated avatar and vivid life-like environment can motivate learners to engage in purposeful educational inquires and learning activities [24]. The virtual worlds create online social community, collaborative and self-paced learning environments, make it possible to develop situated understandings, effective social practices, powerful identity, shared values, and ways of thinking, and facilitate 21st century skills [7][25][26] [27].…”