"Avatars" in game-design are personas that game-players take on as they immerse themselves in the game. Game-players play the game with this 'fictitious' persona. This persona, normally called a 'player character', can be a warrior, a scientist, a superhero, a spy, an animal, etc. Hiding behind this persona allows the game-player to behave differently than how they would normally behave in real life. They are taking on a role of a character that is usually bigger and greater than themselves. This anonymity, and the license to act 'bigger-than-life" gives them freedom to defeat foes, do heroic acts, fulfill quests, etc. The persona allows them to take greater risks, explore and approach problems that they would not face in real life. For the language classroom, what if a language learner has the ability to hide behind a mask and/or persona? Would the language learner be willing to take risks if his real identity was hidden? To what degree of risk-and more importantly, the increase of associated benefits would a language learner have in if she were operating under this protection?
Roger