English as a Second Life (I mean... Language)

[Morrigoon]

http://tech.msn.com/products/article.aspx?cp-documentid=6662968&icid=tg6662968&GT1=40000

Looks like people are using RPGs to learn a second language these days. Kinda cool, I thought. Especially the way English teachers are setting up their own "language centers" in Second Life. You'd never have an English teacher throw you in a cage or make you swab the decks irl, but you can learn English on a pirate ship online, LOL.

[Alex]

Yeah, because "Talk Like a Pirate Day" is famed for its use of proper standard English.

If this leads to a uptick in foreign employees saying "arrrgh" and "avast" during conference calls I'm going to be annoyed.

But seriously, it is a cool approach. Just from making fun of gold farmers in WoW I've learned several Mandarin phrases.

[flippyshark]

If this leads to a uptick in foreign employees saying "arrrgh" and "avast" during conference calls I'm going to be annoyed.


But is "Arrrgh" really proper standard pirate talk? (Okay, it's a derail.) I've always thought that "Arrr" (without the 'gh') was a variation on "Aye," denoting an affirmation. (Arr, matey, smart as paint ye be.) "Aaaargh" sounds like a scream of pain to me.

Back to topic, I agree that this is a great idea. I'd love to improve my Japanese in a fun environment like this.