The effect of second life as a virtual language learning environment on speaking anxiety / Serhat Güzel; tez danışmanı Doç.Dr.Selami Aydın.

Tez (Yük)--Balıkesir Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü İngiliz Dili Eğitimi Anabilim Dalı.

Kaynakça var.

There is a lack of research on the effects of SL as a virtual language learning environment on speaking anxiety and speaking achievement among EFL learners. In addition, related literature is quite insufficient in terms of providing insight about Turkish EFL context. Therefore, this experimental study aims to examine the effects of the use of SL on speaking anxiety and achievement. In the study, a background questionnaire and an anxiety scale were administered to 44 EFL learners. Moreover, participants were called on for interviews to measure their speaking achievement levels in two steps as pre-test and post-test, and participants were divided into two groups as control group and experimental group. As a result, findings suggest that there is no significant correlation between speaking activities that take place in traditional settings and SL environment concerning speaking anxiety levels and speaking achievement. It is recommended that the extent to use SL should be moderated during speaking practice because SL does not offer a flawless solution to speaking anxiety, and teachers should be aware that the use of alternative environments as SL should be adjusted appropriately in a way that it can serve as an additional contribution to traditional speaking activities.