the 2 nd international conference on chinese language pedagogy august 15, 2009 sachiko kamioka

The 2nd International Conference on Chinese Language Pedagogy

August 15, 2009

Sachiko KamiokaCenter for Applied Second Language Studies (CASLS)

University of Oregon

What is Second Life?

Free 3D virtual world

What is Second Life?

Avatar

Is Second Life a Game?

Yes and No

Is Second Life a Game?

Yes ---- Interface

Is Second Life a Game?

No --- Creativity

Is Second Life a Game?

No --- Ownership

Second Life for Language LearningOpportunity for exposure to and acquisition of authentic language and culture

But is SL Safe?

Teen Second Life for users between the ages of 13-17

But is SL Safe?

Adult Second Life• Harassment• Mature content• Moral and ethical concerns• Requires caution, careful preparation, and

principled interaction

MyChina Village ProjectDiffusion of Innovation grant by National Security Education Program (NSEP)

Partners: • Avant Assessment • Centric

Background• Lack of students with sufficient Chinese skills for Oregon Chinese K-16 Flagship program• Study abroad is costly

Traditional paradigm

ClassroomInstructions

Oversea Experience

A Third Paradigm

Oversea Experience

ClassroomInstructions

MyChina Village

Pedagogically-equipped virtual world

Authentic socio-cultural context

Challenges and Adjustment• Limitation of Teen Second Life• Monthly events to a summer camp

• August 3, 2009 ~ August 28, 2009 • 2 hours everyday • 16 facilitators from Soochow University’s Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language Program• 8 college-level intermediate learners selected from 35 applications• 1 camp counselor

MyChina Village Virtual Chinese Immersion Camp

Why a Month-long Camp?• participant commitment• participants’ involvement and ownership

in developing MyChina Village• experiment with users

Camp OverviewWhole group activities:

Environmental Studies theme

Individual activities: Learner performs quests with their assigned facilitator to achieve their own goals

Lessons LearnedTime and human resourcesTechnology

Things to be LearnedDo virtual worlds provide authentic socio-cultural

context?Is it worth it?

How Can I Benefit from MyChina Village?

• Join us at open house on Fridays 6 pm – 7 pm PDT during the camp • Findings will become available on CASLS Web site http://casls.uoregon.edu

kamioka@uoregon.edu