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EL.LE | Vol. 5 | Issue 3 | November 2016

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Research Article

The Use 3D Virtual Worlds in Language Learning

Daria Coppola    Università per Stranieri di Perugia, Italia    

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abstract

Can the 3D virtual worlds constitute a useful resource for language teaching still today? Do ‘immersivity’ and ‘embodiment’ really favour experiential language learning in a constructivist perspective? The aim of this paper is to look for an answer to these and other questions concerning the role of technology in language learning, taking into account some recent research in the field of virtual world education relating to an international project. The strengths and weaknesses of 3D technology emerge especially from the results of some surveys aimed at identifying what university students think of Second Life language courses: on the one hand, motivation, creativity and active involvement of the learner; on the other, the risk of distraction and dependence as well as some technical difficulties and usability problems.

Published
Nov. 1, 2016
Accepted
Nov. 18, 2016
Submitted
June 10, 2016
Language
IT

Keywords: Technology Enhanced Language Learning • 3D Virtual Worlds

permalink http://doi.org/10.14277/2280-6792/ELLE-5-3-1

Copyright: © 2016 Daria Coppola. This is an open-access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction is permitted, provided that the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. The license allows for commercial use. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.