Advantages of Second Life for language Acquisition
Second Life is a program that allows its users to interact with each other through avatars. People who use this program not only “travel” throughout the world, but could also participate in various group activities. Because of its characteristics, Second Life is used for language instruction by many educational institutions. This program offers different, more engaging ways to expand a foreign language instruction. It is flexible and easy to be accessed by students and instructors. Thus, students could engage in interactive and collaborative use of the language by engaging in communicative/ meaningful activities (no drills, no memorizing, and no repetition). Most importantly, learners are exposed to the target culture (visiting authentic places; Moscow, for example, if they are studying Russian). By using Second Life, students not only have many language practice opportunities, but the learning process appears to be also personalized. The users of Second Life have the opportunity to decide how and where and with whom to practice the target language.
Disadvantages of Second Life for Language Acquisition
I do not see any disadvantages in terms of Second Language Acquisition. However, instructors have to plan some time for teaching the students how to use the program for language acquisition/practice.
Moving forward!
11 years ago
I agree with you that the learning process can be personalized. Students can practice in environments that are interesting to them.
ReplyDeleteI thought the same thing--however, I could see the MANY distractions available in SL being something that an instructor may find challenging.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that instruction will be needed to jump start the students. Even with the instruction we had in class, some of things on Second Life I found very difficult. I never did figure out how to switch to PG and one of the places we ended up was very scary, thank goodness I was only an avatar!
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