This document describes NIFLAR's 3D virtual worlds created for language learning. It discusses NIFLAR environments created in Second Life and OpenSimulator, including regions modeled after real-world locations like a Spanish city and Asterix village. These virtual worlds are designed to provide culturally authentic settings and opportunities for social interaction to develop intercultural communication skills. The document outlines several activities and tasks used in the virtual environments, such as treasure hunts, guided tours, problem-solving games, and communicative games.

1. Experiences with NIFLAR’s
3D virtual worlds
Ton Koenraad & Silvia Canto

2. Structure
• NIFLAR 3D worlds
• Recordings of university student activities

3. Sense of presence: social interaction

4. Settings for functional
dialogues

5. Flexible, adaptable

6. NIFLAR requirements
from first ideas to realisation

7. Design principles for NIFLAR 3D-VLE
• Objectives for L2 learners & (student) teachers
• Pedagogical principles:
– Pedagogy re ICC-training & assessment
– Blended approach
– Teacher Ed.:
Experiential learning (competence development)
• Analysis of good practice (Warburton, 2009; Molka-
Danielsen & Deutchmann, 2009; Sweeney, 2009; Jauregi et al., 2009;
2010)
• Scalable, sustainable

8. NIFLAR’s 3D Learning Enviroments:
Second Life
Open Simulator

9. SL for adult students:
Access to authentic places &
interaction (chance meetings)

10. NIFLAR @ Second Life
Launchroom

11. Instant scenes for tasks

12. Open Sim NIFLAR for
secondary pupils & student teachers

13. NIFLAR OS MegaSim:
Four (4) voice-enabled Regions
• Reception Region
• Spanish Region
• Asterix Village Region
+ Projectlandia

14. Reception SIM
Project Home, International Meeting Area (tandem learning)

15. Spain / Valencia city (culturally specific settings)

16. Asterix village:
Curriculum support for:
historical topics, roleplay + perspective change

17. Projectlandia:
default scenario & facilities
for ad hoc projects

18. •Projectlandia: Regions for future target groups, e.g.
ChinaVillage

19. Tasks & activities for
secondary learners
- Treasure Hunt: find hidden cultural artefacts and
discuss use/origin
- Guided tour:
Guide partner and provide cultural information

20. Object based activities (Self Access)
Comics Puzzler (Info Gap: problem solving)

21. Object based activities
(2)
Talking Lottery Balls (Communicative Game)