Stimulating student-student interaction: A Spanish conversation group in Second Life Karen Acosta Michelle Ocasio

What is Second Life? It’s free! ( A virtual environment of a mainland and many islands If your computer can run it, you can be on Second Life!

What is Second Life? A virtual environment… A virtual environment… ◦As if walking into a video game ◦You create an avatar – your virtual body in which you can be a person, a vehicle, a vampire or a flying dragon ◦Go shopping for (virtual) houses, vacation rental property, clothes, jewelry, tattoos, dance moves, body parts, pets, nail polish, restaurants… and more! It is not a video game! It is not a video game! ◦Although you can play games within SL ◦Not a form of social media like Facebook or Twitter

What can you do in Second Life? The following and much more… The following and much more… ◦Explore recreations of real life placesreal life places ◦Time travel ◦Role play or participate in activities ◦Professional groups ◦Student presentations on PowerPoint ◦Fundraising ◦Build and tailor your own learning environment

Benefits of a virtual language club Virtual club vs. face-to-face club Virtual club vs. face-to-face club ◦Meet with those who live a long distance away ◦Convenience ◦Engaging! Reach and retain more students ◦Diverse settings – you can go anywhere ◦Customize your avatar to the topic of discussion

VSU Virtual Spanish Club Come join us inWorld! Come join us inWorld! ◦Meet at the VSU campfire and leave from there ◦Destinations include settings that spark the imagination for great conversation, such as Smithsonian Latin American Virtual Museum Smithsonian Latin American Virtual Museum ◦Practice Spanish in low-pressure environment ◦Great way to practice for oral exams ◦SL allows for video clips and music (from YouTube and other sites)

¡Conversemos! We will meet three times during the Spring semester and start again in the fall First meeting: ◦Friday, February 6:00pm ◦Meet in front of the campfire for Introductions ◦From there we’ll TP to our destination (TBD)

Thank you! VSU Second Lifer’s Group Join the VSU Second Lifer’s Group by contacting Dr. Ocasio SLed (Second Life educator’s list serve Join the SLed (Second Life educator’s list serve) to be in communication with other Second Life faculty around the world. ◦ bin/mailman/listinfo/educators bin/mailman/listinfo/educatorshttps://lists.secondlife.com/cgi- bin/mailman/listinfo/educators

… a word about Second Life Marketplace … a word about Second Life Marketplace ◦ …a word about Second Life browsers …a word about Second Life browsers Play for Free Go to and click on Play for Free. Join us for the Second Life 101 session! This afternoon in Pine Hall 107 2:45pm – 4:30pm Thank you!