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

Morrigoon · 04-04-2008, 09:37 AM

http://tech.msn.com/products/article...2968&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 · 04-04-2008, 09:48 AM

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 · 04-04-2008, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

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.

04-04-2008, 09:37 AM	#1
Morrigoon I throw stones at houses Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Location: Location Posts: 9,534	English as a Second Life (I mean... Language) http://tech.msn.com/products/article...2968&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. __________________ http://bash.org/?top "It is useless for sheep to pass a resolution in favor of vegetarianism while wolves remain of a different opinion." -- William Randolph Inge
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04-04-2008, 09:48 AM	#2
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	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.
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