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Language Learning in Higher Education

Journal of the European Confederation of Language Centres in Higher Education (CercleS)

Editor-in-Chief: Szczuka-Dorna, Liliana / O’Rourke, Breffni

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Language learning effects through the integration of synchronous online communication: The case of video communication and Second Life

Silvia Canto
  • Corresponding author
  • Department of Languages, Literature and Communication, Utrecht University, Trans 10, 3512 JE Utrecht, Netherlands
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 / Kristi Jauregi Ondarra
Published Online: 2017-05-09 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/cercles-2017-0004

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Abstract

This article attempts to shed some light on the possible learning benefits for language acquisition and intercultural development of authentic social interaction with expert peers through computer mediated communication (CMC) tools. The environments used in this study are video communication and the 3D virtual world Second Life. For this research study 41 students of Spanish were randomly allocated to three conditions: (1) face-to-face control group, (2) experimental interaction group with video communication, and (3) experimental interaction group with Second Life. All students were following the same language course at B1 level and carried out 5 communication tasks. Different data sources were gathered to measure the impact that integration of CMC has on the development of the intercultural and communicative competence of L2 learners: (1) pre- and post- oral tests to measure the communicative growth of L2 learners; (2) surveys to gather participants’ experiences; and (3) recordings of communication sessions for qualitative in- depth analysis of interaction. Significant differences in the development of communicative competence were found, with experimental groups scoring significantly higher than the face-to-face control group.

Keywords: video communication; virtual worlds; intercultural development; interaction; communicative competence

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About the article

Silvia Canto

Silvia Canto is lecturer of Spanish at Utrecht University. She has collaborated in research studies that integrate video-web communication tools and 3D virtual worlds in blended learning and has participated in the NIFLAR, Euroversity and TILA European projects. Her research activity focuses on the added value of integrating telecollaboration practices in the language curricula to encourage intercultural communication.

Kristi Jauregi Ondarra

Kristi Jauregi Ondarra is associate professor at Utrecht University (The Netherlands). Her main area of research is CALL, particularly Telecollaboration using synchronous applications, notably virtual worlds, recently in combination with serious games. She has initiated and coordinated different innovative European projects (TeCoLa, NIFLAR and TILA) and has participated in the Euroversity network project, all funded by the European Commission. She is chair of the Eurocall SIG group Virtual Worlds & Serious Games and a member of the National Expertise Team of Foreign Language Pedagogy in The Netherlands.

Published Online: 2017-05-09

Published in Print: 2017-05-24

Citation Information: Language Learning in Higher Education, Volume 7, Issue 1, Pages 21–53, ISSN (Online) 2191-6128, ISSN (Print) 2191-611X, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/cercles-2017-0004.

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