A Second Life for EFL Students in Vietnam

For the past two years I have been studying for a Master’s degree in education. I have finally completed the final project, which was to design lessons for students to study English using an online virtual world, in this case Second Life. You can find a summary of that project here.

Second Life and EFL

Even before I began to pursue a master’s degree in education, I had heard of the potential the Second Life program had for learning.  Created in 2003, Second Life is an online virtual community of millions which is much like life itself; you can choose to do with it what you will.  You can spend your time socializing, exploring, creating, or learning, and there are many options for each.  Recently I decided to try it out, specifically from the perspective of education grad student and teacher of English as a foreign language.  How could I integrate SL into my EFL class?

Over the course of a few days, I created an avatar, took some tutorials, and figured out how to navigate this brave new world. I took classes within SL on subjects that interested  me and had conversations with the people I ran into.  Within the program, I searched for ways that SL could help my own students.  I also researched some outside sources to find out how others had used SL to teach English.  I kept a list of possible applications for EFL students:

Attend virtual classes – A major advantage of online learning is that teachers and students can be brought together regardless of geographic location.  In Second Life, teachers can broadcast their voices, show streaming video, pass out class notes, and do a variety of other actions that help make these virtual classes as educational as brick-and-mortar classes. Best of all, most of these are free!

Listen to podcasts – There are podcasts on nearly any subject imaginable, so students can choose what interests them.  Interest level is a major factor in students’ success.

Meet and chat with new friends in English – This is perhaps the most valuable opportunity for English learners.  Often my students ask me where they can meet native speakers to practice English with.  If the students have a computer with Internet, then Second Life provides the chance to meet plenty of speakers from around the world, and in an environment that is more exciting than just a box of text.

Explore and experience while using English – Students can practice English while simply roaming through the program’s world, viewing what others have created.  They can practice their shopping language while shopping or their restaurant language while eating.

Play alternate reality games – While SL is not a game itself (it is an immersive environment), it does contain many games within it.  Some of the more involved of these are alternate reality games or “quests”.  Advanced students will have so much fun playing these that they will forget they are even studying English.

How would I use these applications in my classes?  First of all, my students are of all ages, but it seems clear that SL is not for everyone.  The world is intended for only those 16 and above. Computer literacy is also a prerequisite.  There is the concern about inappropriate content, but the site has safeguards built in, and many educational institutions all over the world feel comfortable using it everyday.  So, for my older and more advanced students, there appears to be two options.  They can either use the computer lab at school to try SL with a teacher assisting, or they can connect from home.  Then they can discuss their experiences next time they come to class.

Second Life can be downloaded from its official site.  It is an open educational resource that should not be overlooked. For further information about EFL in SL, read this paper.

 

Wang, C.; Lefaiver, M.; Wang, Q.; & Hunt, C. (2011). Teaching in an EFL program in second life: Student teachers’ perspectives and implications. Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange, 4(1), 27-40.