Second Life Certificate in Modern Languages

== Virtual learning made real via the "Second Life Certificate in Modern Languages==

If you have ever wanted to learn Japanese but have not had the chance to find a course or reach an Educational place in your real world then Second Life has a superb example of Virtual online learning for the Japanese Language.

Japanese is a complex language, containing over 1945 standard Characters in its general alphabet (Ministry of Education, Japan), in addition to two further syllabaries (Hiragana and Katakana), based around an inflectional grammar system. Whilst SL is a tricky platform for language learning, the obstacles of effectively learning this subject can be overcome, particularly where direct exposure to foreign nationals can be obtained at the touch of a button, leading to real-time exchange and a steep learning curve, particularly in spoken and typed language, the initial stages of learning are very important though.....

This platform is very lucky to have real lecturers teaching this subject, one person in particular, Mr Karlingo Lorefield, the founder of "Epithet and Synonym", is a pioneer of teaching this subject within Second Life, and has reached acclaim in the past with both Oxford and Maryland University, where his work was recognised at a number of Anthropology Conferences.

Mr Lorefield States "Learning such a language online is done immediately with the disadvantage in lack of face to face communication or body language, but with appreciation and application towards a students appropriate learning style a very productive learning curve can be obtained. I have been in SL for approximately 2.5 years and have produced 50 students whom have gone on to study at University in their local RL vicinity"

The Academic Board Operating practice

• Certification Documentation This is an electronic record, verified by one of the accredited (see process) examining Adjudicators that they have reached the required level, as prescribed by the Academic Board by-laws.

• Skills Lists are a high-level summary of important knowledge and skills that people need to understand and be able to do.
• Skills Instruction tells people, in detail, WHAT they need to know and HOW to do it, based on the material in the skills lists.
• Skills Tests are detailed questions and tasks people must successfully answer and perform in order to pass.
• Skills Certification is the administration of tests in an objective manner and documentation of those who pass.

EXAMPLE 1

Do you have a Driver's License? That is Certification Documentation.

The applicable Laws of your Government are the Skills List.

Do you remember taking Driver's Ed Classes? That is Skills Instruction.

Do you remember having to pass the Government Driver's Test to get your license? That is the Skills Test.

EXAMPLE 2

Skills List: "Understand and be able to prepare marketing materials that reach the majority of varied learning styles of the general public."

Skills Instruction: "Use images with visual weight proceeding from bottom left to upper right for visual learners, Use text grouped into chunks of seven or less major subheadings for textual learners."

Skills Test: "Prepare a one-page advertisement for web and print that gets 50% of people who look at it to immediately ask for more information."

Education developed for certification will be guided by the criteria developed for each topic but will typically cover a broader range of skills.