Monday 28 September 2009

Teaching and learning languages in virtual worlds

A new group has been set up by two leading language teachers’ associations, EUROCALL (Europe) and (CALICO (USA), to promote teaching and learning foreign languages (including English as a foreign language) in virtual worlds: the EUROCALL/CALICO Joint Virtual Worlds Special Interest Group (VW SIG).

It is clear that there is a growing interest in virtual worlds. There have been several presentations on virtual worlds in recent EUROCALL and CALICO conferences. Introductory workshops for newcomers to Second Life have also taken place at the annual conferences of both associations. In November 2007 EUROCALL began setting up a headquarters building on EduNation III Island, and in early 2009 CALICO established a presence on the land immediately next door. The two locations now form a significant joint environment linked by a teleport system. The joint Welcome pavilion is located at:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/EduNation%20III/31/35/22

The SIG has also set up a ning, where its members and other interested parties can communicate, exchange information, announce events and initiate discussions:

http://virtualworldssig.ning.com

Further information is available at the EUROCALL website:

http://www.eurocall-languages.org/sigs/vwsig.html

Anyone may join the ning, but to take part in future events (e.g. workshops, seminars) organised by the SIG you need to be a member of EUROCALL or CALICO.

Graham Davies

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

great post and an innovative step thanks for sharing sejour linguistique vancouver

PTLLS said...

In Europe lifelong learning takes now has a different approach, we hope to see more development as a result of new legislation, good luck all teachers!