This week will be spent visiting areas in SL where different languages are spoken. This will include Real Life places that are represented in SL as well as places where languages can be learned. The overall aim is for everyone to have an initial idea of how SL can be used / is being used for language learning, (teaching) and practice both informally and formally.

There will be guided tours of some RL places in SL where we will try some language activities. Then, you will be given a list of LMs (landmarks) to more such places, which you can explore in your own time. There will also be a tour of an interactive Mexican town, which is a nice example of how learners can interact with scripted objects in SL.

All of these places can be used in a synchronous formal session with a teacher but also informally by students, who can practise their language skills and learn vocabulary on their own.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this week, you should:

• have reflected on your visits in a blog post in the TLinVW Ning.
• have participated in the forum discussion for this week
• be aware of how Second Life can be used by language learners for language practice
• have started to become comfortable with the Second Life interface and with its communication tools.

Useful SL skills

Click this link to go to the SL skills list and tutorial videos.

Activities

1. Select some of the Real Life places in SL from the map or list below (or get a notecard with landmarks by clicking the poster for this week in the Webheads HQ in Second Life) and visit them. If possible, do this in pairs or form small groups. There will also be some organized tours during the week (check out the events for this week). Take snapshots and post them to our Ning (you can do that from your page on Ning or from the front page by clicking on "add photo" or Flickr group. Write your reflections in a blog post or in the week three forum.
2. Attend one of the scheduled guided tours to places where languages are taught. As a preparation, you can watch some of the videos in the "Optional Reading/Viewing" section below.
3. Post your reflections to your blog on the TLinVW10 Ning.

Resources

This is a map with a (complete) overview of real life places in Second Life. Click on the image to go to the original website. There, you can click the pins to get to the SLURL page and teleport.

Here are some suggestions:

How it works: Click the link. A new browser will open with the Slurl. Click teleport.

• SL Berlin
• SL Polish Community
• SL Dublin
• SL Great Wall of China
• SL Barcelona
• SL Mexico
• SL Ancient Rome
• SL Paris
• SL Morocco
• Virtual Makkah

Copy of notecard with suggested language learning activities: RL in SL Language Activities

Optional Readings/Viewings

• A video tour of Mi Casa Es Su Casa (Mexican Town)
• An advanced Spanish class in SL (video).
• Places to practise different languages (video)
• Stories from Second Life: Language Lab (article)
• LanguageLab commercial (video)