Second Life

It just like in the real world in Second Life. Students can control the pace and path of the interaction with others. Generally speaking, the use of technology inside or outside the classroom tends to make the class more interesting. It can promote motivation in students by personalising information, for example by creating their own avatars as part of the tasks or programs. It can be learning opportunity for students when they are encouraged to try different possible solution to a problem in exploraing the islands in the Second Life. Other advantage is that users feel a low social prensence and a sense of safty in anonymity.They feel free and more relax in the virtual world conversation than real one. This tends to be greater participation in conversation . But students can lose track of the tasks in the free virtual world, therefore students need to be work alongside with teachers' guidance. When teachers selecting any kinds of this multimedia tools for learning, we need to be very cauious and pay attention to the quality of the programme.

Language Learner Behaviour in a Virtual Enviroment- A summary

This article provide a practical and user-friendly guide to help teachers integrate computer technology into their language teaching. Roed (2003) found that a virtual learning enviroment may constitute a more relaxed free atmosphere than a classroom. The lower level of inhibition and social anexiety would be advantageous in foreign language teaching and learning.Roed (2003) investigated the behaviour of university students of Danish while they were engaged in a communicative language task within a virtual enviroment( chat room). She found that the task resulted in changes in behaviour and also the perception of learners'behaviour.Therefore, Roed's findings seem to view that online chatting facilitates language learners to communicate as a result of lowered self awareness while engaging in public discourse.
Despite the fact that ESL learners would have to face the difficulties of language competency, I do think that lessons can be enhanced by the use of computers because computers can be used for realistic tasks, such as chatting online which require students to use multiple language skills and interact. Teachers can scaffold according to learners' needs and use less sophistcated programs to complement their lessons and engage students in authentic ways.

Roed, J. (2003). Language Learner Behaviour in a Virtual Environment. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 16(2-3), 155-172.