Arts
ARABIA: Language learning through
cultural experiences in a virtual world
Scott Grant
Chinese Studies Program
Monash University
Dr Christina Mayer
Arabic Studies
University of Melbourne
Australian Federal Government
Office of Learning and Teaching
LCNAU
Languages and Cultures Network for
Australian Universities
OTHER
AUSTRALIAN
UNIVERSITIES
Presentation title
28th February 2011
2
Arabia: Language learning through cultural experiences
in a virtual world
LCNAU
Languages and Cultures Network for
Australian Universities
Seed Funding Grant
A$2000
Presentation title
28th February 2011
3
Arabia: Language learning through cultural experiences
in a virtual world
Arabic culture
in daily life asynchronous
Face 2 Face
Classroombased
Other aspects of
curriculum
Arabic culture
synchronous
Presentation title
28th February 2011
4
Arabia: Language learning through cultural experiences
in a virtual world
Second Life Group
Classroom-based
group
Presentation title
28th February 2011
5
Arabia: Language learning through cultural experiences
in a virtual world
Second Life Group
Classroom-based
group
Basic skills lesson 1
Basic skills lesson 2
Classroom based
lesson
Inworld lesson
Moodle quiz
Moodle quiz
Survey
Survey
Presentation title
28th February 2011
6
Arabia: Language learning through cultural experiences
in a virtual world
Presentation title
28th February 2011
7
Arabia: Language learning through cultural experiences
in a virtual world
Presentation title
28th February 2011
8
Arabia: Language learning through cultural experiences
in a virtual world
• Initial analysis of the data indicates that the learning outcomes are
indeed at least as good in the Second Life Group as in the
Classroom Group, and in fact may even be marginally better (Quiz
result 77.20% average for the Second Life Group and 75.23% for
the Classroom Group).
• The main caveat on this is that the research sample size was
limited (with 7 members of the Second Life Group and 5 members of
the Classroom Group completing the quiz) who, together, represent
14.11 % of the entire Arabic 1 student cohort.
Presentation title
28th February 2011
9