Presentation to SLanguages online conference prior to inworld tour

1. Arts
ARABIA: Language learning through
cultural experiences in a virtual world
Scott Grant Dr Christina Mayer
Chinese Studies Program Arabic Studies
Monash University University of Melbourne

2. Australian Federal Government
Office of Learning and Teaching
LCNAU
Languages and Cultures Network for
Australian Universities
OTHER
AUSTRALIAN
UNIVERSITIES
Presentation title 28th February 2011 2

3. Arabia: Language learning through cultural experiences
in a virtual world
LCNAU
Languages and Cultures Network for
Australian Universities
Seed Funding Grant
A$2000
Presentation title 28th February 2011 3

4. Arabia: Language learning through cultural experiences
in a virtual world
Arabic culture
in daily life -
asynchronous
Face 2 Face
Classroom-
based Other aspects of
curriculum Arabic culture
synchronous
Presentation title 28th February 2011 4

5. Arabia: Language learning through cultural experiences
in a virtual world
Second Life Group Classroom-based
group
Presentation title 28th February 2011 5

6. Arabia: Language learning through cultural experiences
in a virtual world
Second Life Group Classroom-based
group
Basic skills lesson 1
Classroom based
Basic skills lesson 2
lesson
Inworld lesson
Moodle quiz
Moodle quiz
Survey
Survey
Presentation title 28th February 2011 6

7. Arabia: Language learning through cultural experiences
in a virtual world
Presentation title 28th February 2011 7

8. Arabia: Language learning through cultural experiences
in a virtual world
Presentation title 28th February 2011 8

9. Arabia: Language learning through cultural experiences
in a virtual world
• Initial analysis of the data indicates that the learning outcomes are
indeed at least as good in the Second Life Group as in the
Classroom Group, and in fact may even be marginally better (Quiz
result 77.20% average for the Second Life Group and 75.23% for
the Classroom Group).
• The main caveat on this is that the research sample size was
limited (with 7 members of the Second Life Group and 5 members of
the Classroom Group completing the quiz) who, together, represent
14.11 % of the entire Arabic 1 student cohort.
Presentation title 28th February 2011 9