Second Life in Language Learning: A Literature Review of Journals from 2012 to 2016

As a platform based on virtual reality(VR), Second Life(SL) is drawing much attention abroad because of its immersive environment. However, the number of research related to VR or SL assisted language learning is not large and this domain needs to be analyzed further.This paper aims to analyze the applications and research of SL in language learning, based on the journals in web of science from 2012 to 2016, and trying to find out hints for future research and implications for teachers and researchers with a summary of previous studies. By searching key words"Second Life"and"Language Learning"in web of science from2012 to 2016, 15 papers were selected finally. Mind maps and summary tables are used to demonstrate and analyze papers. It is found that most SL research is employed at universities, and research themes are varied from interaction to students' learning attitudes. Mixed research methods are used in both qualitative study and quantitative study. In terms of pedagogy, technical problems should be eliminated in order to optimize learning environment, and activity design is also important in SL for teachers to teach languages.