A Case Study of Cultural Learning Through Immersive Virtual Reality Tools

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 5
  In Roundtable Session: Language Learning, Social Media, and Identity

Abstract

Participants in this study used immersive VR tools for learning Chinese language and culture. This presentation reports students’ perceived benefits and challenges of using VR tools for Chinese language and culture learning. For a semester, 12 college students role-played as virtual tour guides for six tourist attractions in China. Class observations, participants’ reflections, and individual follow-up interviews revealed that the VR tools offered an authentic context for Chinese language learning, sparked interest in the virtually presented locales, and encouraged students to further explore the target culture.

Authors

• Ying Xie, Northern Illinois University

• Lan-Hui Ryder, Northern Illinois University

• Yan Chen, University of Nevada - Las Vegas