Perceptions of ImmerseMe Virtual Reality Platform to Improve English Communicative Skills in Higher Education

• Main Authors: Juan Habib Bendeck Soto, Diana Carolina Toro Ocampo, Lued del Carmen Beltrán Colon, Alejandro Valencia Oropesa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: International Association of Online Engineering (IAOE) 2020-05-01
• Series: International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies
• Subjects: efl; english; educational innovation; immersion; learning; virtual reality
• Online Access: https://online-journals.org/index.php/i-jim/article/view/12181

The main objective of this project was to evaluate the impact of the application of the virtual reality platform ImmerseMe as an empowering and innovative tool for learning English in a private university, as well as evaluating its possible future implementation in a private university in Medellín. It was applied in speaking activities to measure and evaluate the level of speaking of students from levels 1 to 3, as a pilot test for the use of immersive virtual reality within the thematic units currently designed from the department of foreign languages and cultures. The findings of the study showed that an immersive VR platform like this one is ideal to enhance the different skills of English as a foreign language (EFL) from an immersive focus considering different contexts and thinking of the development of communicative skills and interaction with native speakers in higher education. The recommendations given are for teachers and students’ participation and motivation for its implementation contemplating the cost and the multiple advantages of immersing students in a second language virtual environment.