Teaching and Learning Languages in Second Life - WiziQ Presentation

My interest in Second Life

Learning to use SL

SLexperiments Wiki and group

Finding a place and students to teach

The course

The SLexperiments blog

Student feedback

Conclusion

How to contact me

Q&A

I‘m a visual learner

Learning at school was not very motivating for me

I like technology and the Internet

I had heard that SL is immersive and immersive learning is very effective

Learning by doing and with as many senses as possible involved is more memorable

SL‘s game-like nature

Many opportunities for students to practise English

Looking for motivating ways to teach online

Share knowledge

Learn together

Share resources

Support each other

Meet in-world

Discuss and socialise

Pre-intermediate

General English

Mixed ability

SL + Moodle

6 - 10 students

Nationalities: Turkish, Qatari, Egyptian, Saudi Arabian, Indian, French

6 weeks, 12x90min

Deciding what to teach

Coursebooks (topics, systems, skills)

Past courses at this level

Mix of activities, topics, systems, skills

During the course

Deciding how to teach

How to adapt activities, materials and games to SL

What is possible in SL which is not possible in RL?

Which tools do I need/have?

Writing the lessons plans

Preparing the lessons in-world

Inventory: tools, notecards, slides

Selecting locations (landmarks)

Setting the scene

What happened?

Students didn‘t want/couldn‘t use voice

Preparation and activities take more time than in RL

Real Life sometimes interfered

Lag, crashes

Kept loosing my skirts :)

no major issues (we were very lucky)

Exhausting for teacher: teaching, IMs, taking notes, Real Life

What could happen?

Time zone differences

Technical issues (no Internet connection, SL down, etc)

Griefers (the locations were accessible for everybody)

Offensive clothing or behaviour (nudity, etc).

Addiction (SL can be addictive and I feel responsible for students I bring into SL. On the other hand, I provide a good alternative with my lessons to spend time in-world)

Reflecting + processing

Professional development

Hoping for feedback

Sharing with colleagues

Making a case for teaching in virtual worlds

Do you think your English has improved?

Yes, I think my English has improved a lot. First of all, I have learned a lot of new things (words - grammar - ..) in the class. I usually practice speaking English with other family members, and in the university, and I see that my confidence in speaking has improved, and my speaking has became better. We have a project where we communicate with different organizations, and sometimes we have to talk English with foreign people. I found myself in the previous weeks talking easily and more confidently to them. I helped a friend in writing her essays, and those essays got good marks, which means my writing has improved. Yes, My Grammar was not that good and it's better now. For example I used to put past tens after did like: Where did you came from? and learned that is wrong. Yes but unfortunately, I joined the group too late. Yes, because now I know new vocabulary and I can say it Correctly. Cube I was say it "cb" it "cuwb" This courses very useful, educational and amusing. I learned a lot of words. for example I learned sl bulding prims and geometrical shape, i learned to reuters job

Which activities were most effective for your learning? Why?

Taking the other students in a tour to a place, and the games we played together: it's so fun, and makes students interact with each other. Preparing and giving presentation: it's something that you do by yourself, so you learn more by preparing for the presentation. Listening to the teacher, and learning about the different accents and pronunciations: This has improved my speaking, as I learned the correct pronunciation of some words, and now my ear is more sensitive for different accents. Meeting and having guests in the class: I liked listening to Dennis, and Breathe. I liked the idea of writing a letter to Dennis. I learned a lot from listening to them. Doing the homeworks: These were the most fun homeworks I've ever did. I liked using the voice thread (although I didn't use voice ^-^;), and I liked writing in the blog and the forums. Doing the feedbacks: I don't know how to explain it, but I think it is very useful way to use your English to express how you felt about the class (Answering the questions). Having the teacher feedbacks on me: It gave me confidence, and helped me improve more. When take Character like Journalist or tourists guide etc. Using Second Life objects like cube, sphere and other objects because that make mean of words so easy the pictures is the easy way describe any thing. For me all were effective, because I learned from each one. Speaking, writing and especially listening Interaction and the subject present of the student

What did/didn't you like about your teacher and the way she taught?

What I liked: Greeting us, asking how are we doing and chatting with us at the beginning of each class. Making all students participate. New topics and new teaching ideas every lecture. Different homeworks ideas. Feedbacks on the teacher and the students. What I didn't like: hmmmmmmm I really can't find anything. I liked her way in teaching. It was fun and the fun part is very important in learning for me. Ms Nergis successful and determined a teacher. I grateful herself nothing Using useful sites and games like: http://audacity.sourceforge.net / http://voicethread.com / http:// www.ur.se/sprk/engelsk a/inredning/ Make lesson s iteams in sound files like shapes sound file. Give example for home work. the thing wich i did't like it the teacher make us stad up big times and that make us tired.

If you had to pay for the course, would you want …

a) traditional lessons b) interactive lessons with field trips, interviews, student presentations, storytelling, etc. b) a mix of both 0.00 % 60.00 % 40.00 %