Because of the nature of the medium, the screens and the information they convey whip past quite quickly.
Conversations take place without face to face 'clues' such as gesture and expression.
To some extent, use of 'emoticons' and the 'emote' command help, but the students need to learn them. To try and exploit the MOO as a language learning tool and to use it to add an extra dimension to the classroom we have integrated the use of 'schMOOze' into course work. A MOO has potential as a teaching tool, providing the students with the opportunity for authentic conversations with people from outside of the classroom. MOOs offer a 'safe' zone in which the less extrovert students can practice the target language without any risk. Once the students are 'inside' the MOO, there is a sense in which they are no longer in the classroom - they have room to manoeuvre autonomously.