Language Learner Behaviour in a Virtual Enviroment. Computer Assisted Language Learning by Roed,J (2003)

Roed (2003) carried a research on the behaviour of university students of Danish while they were engaged in a communicative language task within a synchronous virtual learning enviroment ( e.g. chat room). Findings show that the task resulted in the change in behaviour especially those quiet students behaved different in online communication. They became more active than in the classroom. This explains that the kind of enviroment helps to reduce language anexiety. Comupter-mediated communication (CMC) creates a rather anonymous and stressfree enviroment. The advantage of CMC is its function as scaffolding. It would result in increased language production.
Roed's findings show that online communication facilitates language learners to communicate. I agree that learning enviroment enhances students' language learning. We expect a learning enviroment introduces promising possibilities for intersection of in-school and out-of-school literacy practices such as computer-aided instruction, computer-based learning, computer-mediated communication and classroom teaching.

Levy, M. (1997). Theory-Driven CALL and the Development Process. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 10(1), 41-56.