Language Learner Behaviour in a Virtual Environment

People behave differently when communicating online compared to a face-to-face situation. Research has shown that when communicating online, people show fewer inhibitions, display less social anxiety, and reduce their public self-awareness. (Kiesler et al., 1984; Siegler et al., 1986; Matheson & Zanna, 1988; Sproull & Kiesler, 1991; Bradley & Lomicka, 2000). They also tend to be more willing to divulge personal information and more honest and forth coming in presenting their personal viewpoints. Based on these findings, it seems that a virtual learning environment may constitute a more relaxed and stress free atmosphere than a classroom. The low level of inhibition and social anxiety, in particular, would be advantageous in foreign language learning, as it would result in increased language production. This paper is a result of a pilot project that explores communicative behaviour patterns among first and second year students of Danish at the University of Edinburgh and University College London. Students solved a language task involving text communications, which were tracked and analysed. The findings are discussed in relation to research on psychological aspects of online behaviour.