The document discusses the use of 3D virtual worlds like Second Life for language learning. It notes that over 200 universities were using Second Life for education by 2007, with language learning being the most common activity. Virtual worlds provide immersive, collaborative opportunities for task-based language learning. Educators have developed frameworks for activities like exploring, collaborating, and building in virtual environments. Several language schools and organizations offer language learning resources in Second Life, including simulations of real countries, scavenger hunts, and task-based activities.

2. Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 2

3. Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 3

4. Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 4

6. Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 6

7. Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 7

8. Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 8

9. Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 9

10. • Second Life is the dominant 3D virtual world
on the Web.
• In Second Life there are thousands of
simultaneous users who interact with one
another in the guise of a chosen character or
avatar.
Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 10

11. • Second Life has parks, shops, schools,
museums, islands and beaches, all designed
and maintained by the virtual residents.
• It is also supported by an economy and a
virtual currency. You can buy virtual land,
build a virtual house and fill it with virtual
furniture.
Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 11

12. Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 12

13. Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 13

14. Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 14

15. Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 15

16. Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 16

17. Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 17

19. • Virtual worlds are playing an increasingly
important role in education, especially in
language learning.
• By March 2007 it was estimated that over 200
universities or academic institutions were
involved in Second Life .
Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 19

20. • Joe Miller, Linden Lab Vice President of
Platform and Technology Development,
claimed in 2009 that
"Language learning is the most
common education-based
activity in Second Life".
Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 20

21. • Many mainstream language institutes and
private language schools are now using 3D
virtual environments to support language
learning.
Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 21

22. • Virtual worlds are used for the
immersive, collaborative and task-based,
game-like opportunities they offer language
learners.
• As such, virtual world language learning can
be considered to offer distinct learning
experiences.
Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 22

23. • Immersive: Immersive experiences draw on the
ability to be surrounded by a certain (real or
fictitious) environment that can stimulate
language learning.
• Social: Almost all 3D virtual spaces are inherently
social environments where language learners can
meet others, either to informally practice a
language or to participate in more formal classes.
• Creative: A less-developed approach to language
learning in virtual worlds is that of constructing
objects as part of a language learning activity.
Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 23

24. • The “Six learnings framework” is a pedagogical
outline developed for virtual world education
in general. It sets out six possible ways to view
an educational activity.
Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 24

25. 1. Exploring: learners explore a virtual world’s locations and
communities as fieldwork for class.
2. Collaborating: learners work together within a virtual world on
collaborative tasks.
3. Being: learners explore themselves and their identity through
their presence in a virtual world, such as through role-play.
4. Building: learners construct objects within a virtual world.
5. Championing: learners promote real life causes through
activities and presentations in a virtual world.
6. Expressing: learners represent activities within a virtual world
to the outside world, through blogs, podcasts, presentations and
videos.
Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 25

26. Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 26

27. Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 27

28. Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 28

29. Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 29

30. Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 30

31. Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 31

32. • Some language schools offer a complete
language learning environment through a
virtual world,
e.g. Languagelab.com and Avatar Languages
Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 32

33. • The British Council: The British Council has
been teaching English in its restricted Second
Life for Teens location for several years. Visit
the British Council Isle in Second Life and try
your hand at the challenging quests.
Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 33

34. • Edunation Islands: An area in Second Life
that focuses on the potential for virtual worlds
to enhance the language learning process.
Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 34

35. • LanguageLab: Learn English online in
Second Life.
• TESOL Electronic Village Online (EVO): A
professional development project and virtual
extension of the TESOL Convention. TESOL
EVO offers workshops on teaching in Second
Life.
Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 35

36. • Language teachers are discovering a variety of
different ways in which Second Life can be
used in language learning and teaching, for
example:
• Simulations of real • Virtual tourism
countries • Autonomous learning
• Scavenger hunts • Tandem learning
• Task-based learning • Voice chat
• Language villages
• Virtual classrooms Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 36

37. • Simulations of real countries: There are
many simulations in Second Life that reflect the
physical appearance and culture of real countries.
• Scavenger hunts , the teacher can ask learners
to search for an object that reflects the culture of
a specific country, take a snapshot of it and write
an accompanying textual description either in
their own language or in the language that they
are studying.
Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 37

38. • Task-based learning: It is possible to set
up tasks in Second Life that simulate tasks that
could be set up in a real classroom.
Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 38

39. • Task-based learning: For example, a class of
students could be divided into groups, with each group
given the task of setting a small dinner table for
invited guests. The students pick up items of food from
a large central table and transfer (or rather copy) them
to each of the guests' dinner tables. In doing so they
learn the names of the items of food, how to
understand instructions, use of verbs and prepositions
of location and placement, etc. At the same time they
also learn SL basics such as how copy and place an
item, and use a great deal of language in the process of
collaborating with one another.
Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 39

40. • WebQuests: Learners develop texts, audios or
podcasts based on their research, part of which is
within a virtual world.
• Language villages: The concept of real-life language
villages has been replicated within virtual worlds to
create a language immersion environment for language
learners in their own country.
• Virtual classrooms: A virtual classroom in SL sets itself
apart from other virtual classrooms in that an ordinary
classroom is the place to learn a language whereas the
SL virtual classroom is the place to practise a language.
Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 40

41. • Virtual tourism: Language learning can take place in public
spaces within virtual worlds. This offers greater flexibility with
locations and students can choose the locations themselves, which
enables a more constructivist approach.
• Autonomous learning: Virtual worlds offer exceptional
opportunities for autonomous learning.
• Tandem learning This form of learning involves two people
with different native languages working together as a pair in order
to help one another to improve their language skills.
• Voice chat: Second Life's current internal voice system has the
added ability to reproduce the effect of distance on voice loudness,
so that there is an auditory sense of space amongst users.
Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 41

42. Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 42

43. Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 43

44. Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 44

45. Dr. Abdelfattah Adel 45