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Potential and Challenges of the Use of VR in English Education #1025

It is said that the use of VR can lead to increasing intrinsic motivation, raising cross-cultural awareness, and reducing affective filters during language learning (Schwienhorst, 2002). A study by Grant et al. (2013) reported a lower level of foreign language anxiety (FLA) among students using a virtual environment than students studying in a real-life classroom. Eight Japanese university students experienced VR English lessons developed by Immerse Inc. Before and after taking these VR lessons, the students took a TOEIC speaking test and completed a questionnaire survey about FLA. While taking the lessons, the students wrote in a journal about their VR experience in each lesson. In this presentation, I will discuss the possibility and challenges of using VR for English education by referring to the characteristics and contents of the VR lessons and the results of the TOEIC speaking tests, questionnaire surveys about FLA, and content-analysis of the journals.