Online Domains of Language Use: Second Language Learners' Experiences of Virtual Community and Foreignness (Report‪)‬

INTRODUCTION Since the early years of the Internet, discussion of virtual communities has been at the forefront of much research (Crook & Light, 2002; Johnston & Johal, 1999; Matei, 2005; Rheingold, 1993; Zorn, 2004). Clodius (1997, January) points out that online, shared interests and self-identification of belonging are viable alternatives to simply defining community on the basis of geography or patterns of residence. This of course has important implications for second language (L2) uses of computer-mediated communication (CMC), which may serve as opportunities for immersion in a virtual, target-language-speaking community.