Language Learning in SL

[Ishayu]

I met a person recently who spoke absolutely perfect BBC newsreader English and found that he had learned this purely from interaction within SL with others, both on voice, but mostly by listening in to conversations.The gentleman was European and did not really speak English before joining SL.  Outstanding!

Second life is a superb environment in which to immerse in the Language Learning Experience, without leaving ones home.  With so many different nationalities among the SL population, there is probably an abundance of opportunity to capitalize on this resource.  

I would like to know what experience people have of learning languages in this environment, and how they have found it, considering the three main approaches; one to one, classroom via a provider, or general immersion.  How far did you get?

 

[Wulfie Reanimator]

Do programming languages count?

[Waiomao]

Most conversations I hear are in English, possibly because I don't hear about get-togethers where other languages are spoken. I would love to learn Japanese, or the Chinese (Mandarin?) at it's root, but have NEVER seen the "nearby chat" window populate with a non-Western alphabet of any kind.

[Mollymews]

1 hour ago, Waiomao said:

Most conversations I hear are in English, possibly because I don't hear about get-togethers where other languages are spoken. I would love to learn Japanese, or the Chinese (Mandarin?) at it's root, but have NEVER seen the "nearby chat" window populate with a non-Western alphabet of any kind.

prior to the Google Translate API becoming a paid subscriber service there used to be a lot more non-english open chat users in SL. Language translator chat HUDs were very popular.  There are still a few people in SL who do have a paid subscription to enable language translation, but nowhere near the numbers there used to be

usual big tech business model for AI learning. Get people to give you data for free until the AI model is reasonably well-founded. Then start charging those same people thereafter

[jhonata Alex]

I'm Brazillian and I speak Portuguese, I also speak a little Spanish and I am studyng English.

[aprilfaithwillow]

I know very good english

[Lillith Hapmouche]

13 hours ago, aprilfaithwillow said:

I know very good english

O rly?

[RunawayBunny]

I learn English grammar and sufficient vocabulary in high school but not used it very often eventually started to forget everything.

Writing with people in SL helps me remember what I forget, and fix my incorrect grammar.

I don't talk on voice (unable to pronounce "R" 😛) combine it with accent it is a disaster, probably no one will understand it.

Edited March 6, 2021 by RunawayBunny

[Rowan Amore]

1 hour ago, RunawayBunny said:

I learn English grammar and sufficient vocabulary in high school but not used it very often eventually started to forget everything.

Writing with people in SL helps me remember what I forget, and fix my incorrect grammar.

I don't talk on voice (unable to pronounce "R" 😛) combine it with accent it is a disaster, probably no one will understand it.

My son had trouble with Rs.  We found a book called Growl when you say R which helped a lot.  Just a random little bit of info.

[RunawayBunny]

11 minutes ago, Rowan Amore said:

My son had trouble with Rs.  We found a book called Growl when you say R which helped a lot.

Tried many methods with my teacher at early age probably it was easy to fix at early age but I was stubborn refused to fix it

At my current age even if I pronounce it correctly I will most likely not apply it while talking.

[Rowan Amore]

3 minutes ago, RunawayBunny said:

Tried many methods with my teacher at early age probably it was easy to fix at early age but I was stubborn refused to fix it

At my current age even if I pronounce it correctly I will most likely not apply it while talking.

It makes you unique. 😊. Always a plus in my book.

[Gen Scientist]

I joined Second Life with another account in 2007. At the beggining I used to spend time with other Spaniards who were into some Naruto roleplay sim. I got bored of it and shifted into the SLMC, which is... basically shooting prims at people using LLCS. Most of the groups that did that spoke English; they were kind enough to let me in despite my non-existent English. Around 2009 I began to talk to them on Ventrilo and Teamspeak.

As time passed I learned more and more, just by being around people, reading and listening; but I still struggle with some accents and vocabulary I'm not used to hear. But yeah. I learned English on Second Life.

[Sid Nagy]

I'm fluently silent in almost every language of the world.