Second Life and Its Application to English as a Foreign Language Settings

Abstract

Currently Second Life offers the most potential as an educational MUVE (multiple user virtual environment) to promote immersion and interaction between Second Language learners and native speakers of the target language. This paper describes an evaluation research approach used to investigate its potential for use in a mid-level Chinese university among EFL (English as a Foreign Language) students lacking in appropriate technical skills and equipment. Various ways were used to integrate SL into an EFL program to see if it could provide an immersive environment and sufficient interaction with native speakers to enhance English communicative competence. SL was promoted as a platform for social networking as well as a virtual classroom for e-learning and test-taking. Results suggest that a lack of student awareness of SL and reluctance to use it are primary barriers to its use in a Chinese environment.