Abstract
Computer-mediated communication tools facilitate international
collaboration projects between foreign language learners and peers abroad (O’Dowd,
2018). Social Virtual Reality (VR) applications allow for synchronous interactions
and task-based communication in which learners can experience telepresence and
immersion and conversate in a foreign language. Based on previous pilot experiences
(Jauregi-Ondarra, Gruber, & Canto, 2020, 2021), this Virtual Exchange (VE)
project aims to investigate how the specific affordances of Social High-immersion
VR (SHiVR) in conjunction with designed tasks influence interaction patterns, and
learning episodes. The VE took place between two groups of university students
in the Netherlands (N=15) and Cyprus (N=14) through SHiVR in March 2022.
The main aims of the tasks were to raise student intercultural awareness, stimulate
task-based communication processes using English as a lingua franca and digital
pedagogical competences of language education students. Different sources of data
were gathered and analysed. In this paper, we describe and present the pedagogical
experience and the initial results
collaboration projects between foreign language learners and peers abroad (O’Dowd,
2018). Social Virtual Reality (VR) applications allow for synchronous interactions
and task-based communication in which learners can experience telepresence and
immersion and conversate in a foreign language. Based on previous pilot experiences
(Jauregi-Ondarra, Gruber, & Canto, 2020, 2021), this Virtual Exchange (VE)
project aims to investigate how the specific affordances of Social High-immersion
VR (SHiVR) in conjunction with designed tasks influence interaction patterns, and
learning episodes. The VE took place between two groups of university students
in the Netherlands (N=15) and Cyprus (N=14) through SHiVR in March 2022.
The main aims of the tasks were to raise student intercultural awareness, stimulate
task-based communication processes using English as a lingua franca and digital
pedagogical competences of language education students. Different sources of data
were gathered and analysed. In this paper, we describe and present the pedagogical
experience and the initial results
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Intelligent CALL, granular systems, and learner data |
| Subtitle of host publication | Short papers from EUROCALL 2022 |
| Editors | B. Arnbjörnsdóttir, B. Bédi, K. Friðriksdóttir, H. Garðarsdóttir |
| Publisher | Research Publishing Net |
| Pages | 191-196 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 978-2-38372-015-7 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2022 |
Keywords
- Virtual Exchange
- Virtual Reality (VR)
- Learning Episodes