The interplay of avatar identities, self-efficacy, and language practices
This study intends to examine English as a foreign language (EFL) learners’ attitudes toward practicing English in Second Life (SL) and to unpack the effects of avatar identities on EFL learners’ sense of self-efficacy and language practices. Nine EFL learners worldwide participated in a task-based...
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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John Benjamins Publishing Company
2020
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/78906 |
| _version_ | 1848763989059698688 |
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| author | Chen, Julian |
| author_facet | Chen, Julian |
| author_sort | Chen, Julian |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | This study intends to examine English as a foreign language (EFL) learners’ attitudes toward practicing English in Second Life (SL) and to unpack the effects of avatar identities on EFL learners’ sense of self-efficacy and language practices. Nine EFL learners worldwide participated in a task-based course in SL, using avatars to carry out SL-related tasks while interacting with peers and the teacher via voice chat. Qualitative data were triangulated from multiple sources: learner reflective journals, a post-course survey, and semi-structured interviews. Three major themes emerged: (1) the effects of masked identity on learning, (2) the impact of telepresence and copresence on learning, and (3) the perceived attitudes toward avatar affinity. Findings implicate that the avatar form renders masked identities to safeguard learners’ self-efficacy and empower their language practices. It also opens up a research avenue on the impact of avatar identities on language learning and teaching in 3D virtual environments. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:12:13Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-78906 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:12:13Z |
| publishDate | 2020 |
| publisher | John Benjamins Publishing Company |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-789062020-06-22T01:22:32Z The interplay of avatar identities, self-efficacy, and language practices Chen, Julian This study intends to examine English as a foreign language (EFL) learners’ attitudes toward practicing English in Second Life (SL) and to unpack the effects of avatar identities on EFL learners’ sense of self-efficacy and language practices. Nine EFL learners worldwide participated in a task-based course in SL, using avatars to carry out SL-related tasks while interacting with peers and the teacher via voice chat. Qualitative data were triangulated from multiple sources: learner reflective journals, a post-course survey, and semi-structured interviews. Three major themes emerged: (1) the effects of masked identity on learning, (2) the impact of telepresence and copresence on learning, and (3) the perceived attitudes toward avatar affinity. Findings implicate that the avatar form renders masked identities to safeguard learners’ self-efficacy and empower their language practices. It also opens up a research avenue on the impact of avatar identities on language learning and teaching in 3D virtual environments. 2020 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/78906 10.1075/aral.19032.che John Benjamins Publishing Company restricted |
| spellingShingle | Chen, Julian The interplay of avatar identities, self-efficacy, and language practices |
| title | The interplay of avatar identities, self-efficacy, and language practices |
| title_full | The interplay of avatar identities, self-efficacy, and language practices |
| title_fullStr | The interplay of avatar identities, self-efficacy, and language practices |
| title_full_unstemmed | The interplay of avatar identities, self-efficacy, and language practices |
| title_short | The interplay of avatar identities, self-efficacy, and language practices |
| title_sort | interplay of avatar identities, self-efficacy, and language practices |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/78906 |