This presentation about language learning and teacher education in the 3D virtual world of Second Life was given at the final conference of the EU-funded Talk With Me project in Vienna in spring 2011.

1. Second Life - A new
spring for language
learning?

2. Overview
Why teach or learn a language in SL?
How can you teach or learn in SL?
What kind of activities can you do in SL?
Which tools can enhance sessions in SL?
What teacher development opportunities
are there?
Q&A

3. Why teach or learn
a language in SL?
immersive collaborative
playful constructive
emotional task-based learning
motivational project-based learning
Many learners are already in SL!

4. How can you teach or
learn in SL?
formal ⇿ informal
synchronous ⇿ asynchronous
one-to-one ⇿ groups

5. What kind of activities
can you do in SL?
international world
visit real-life places
voice and text chat
international exchanges

6. What kind of activities
can you do?
visit or create events
concerts
workshop
conferences
job fairs
inviting guest speakers
organizing parties & game shows

7. What kind of activities
can you do?
visit simulation & role-plays
kitchen fire http://snurl.com/27o6wf
tsunami, earthquake
virtual hallucination
http://snurl.com/27o6in
role-plays with actors

8. What kind of activities
can you do?
other activities
building
scripting
storytelling

9. Which tools can enhance
sessions in SL?

10. What teacher development
opportunities are there?
informal
peer-to-peer (EVO)
SL Experiments
AVALON http://snurl.com/27o6in
community
regular meetings in SL
discussion, field trips
competitions, lesson plans
supportive, motivational, fun

11. What teacher development
opportunities are there?
formal training
theory and practice
structured course
observed lessons
certified

12. Thank you!
Nergiz Kern
English teacher
Teacher trainer
MA EdTech & TESOL
nergiz@gmail.com
Daffodil Fargis