学生1(Student 1)

Virtual Reality is an interesting addition to the resources available for aspiring second language learners. While there isn't a "perfect" way to learn, I think broadening our experiences with different tools and strategies is ultimately beneficial. Some recommendations carry over from traditional learning strategies, such as those from in-person learning. I think developing specific and timely language learning goals and how they will be achieved will enhance the experience of using VR. I think a major goal of using VR is to immerse oneself in the virtual environment. I think being unfamiliar with the technology and/or encountering technical issues can hinder the ultimate goal of immersion. Similar to using any new resource, there may be an acclimatization period to fully grasp how to effectively utilize it. Overall, it will be an incredibly novel experience for me, but I am excited to incorporate some learning goals I had struggled with because of the lack of immersing myself in the content.

I think the biggest hurdle many learners have is expressing themselves competently outside of the classroom. Often the practice drills and example sentences help, but the specificity of such examples make it quite difficult to bring out in the moment. The interpretation seems to come easily, but reproduction is the biggest obstacle. I think a benefit to using VR is how it welcomes immersion in all three senses: visual, auditory, and touch. VR Chat, for example, reflects many of the linguistic nuances observed in face-to-face conversations. However, one con to VR might be the same anxieties that learners have from in-person conversations. The conversation is often an active exchange, which limits the time you have to think about your response. I think if we use the example of texting, it asks the learners to interpret what is being said and produce a response. However, learners are granted more time to think about and synthesize their answers. Perhaps the VR environment is less anxiety-provoking than in-person conversations, but this must be investigated further.

Hoping not to run into too many technical issues while using the machine!