Abstract
La investigación en el área del aprendizaje de lenguas asistido por dispositivos móviles (MALL) muestra que el uso de dispositivos móviles como los smartphones ofrecen una gran variedad de posibilidades para facilitar el aprendizaje de lenguas extranjeras. Además, el desarrollo y fácil acceso a las tecnologías emergentes como la realidad virtual (RV) han abierto nuevas posibilidades en el área de MALL, preparando el terreno para un nuevo campo de investigación llamado aprendizaje de lenguas asistido por realidad virtual (VRALL). En este sentido, el presente estudio intenta identificar tanto las tendencias como los retos de VRALL mediante el análisis de las apps de RV más populares que pueden descargarse actualmente de plataformas comerciales como Google Play Store y App Store. Sin embargo, los resultados indican que la mayoría de las apps encontradas no están diseñadas específicamente para el aprendizaje de lenguas extranjeras, aunque pueden usarse con este fin. Además, muy pocas apps exploran el verdadero potencial de la RV, ya sea proporcionando nuevos enfoques de enseñanza-aprendizaje, nuevos tipos de interacción u ofreciendo nuevos escenarios de aprendizaje que permitan al aprendiente experimentar una mayor sensación de inmersión, y, por tanto, faciliten el proceso de inmersión lingüística y adquisición de la lengua.
Highlights
Research in the area of mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) has shown that the use of mobile devices such as smartphones may offer multiple opportunities for supporting foreign language learning
These observations are in line with those made by other researchers (Chavez & Bayona, 2018; Krokos et al, 2019; Radianti et al, 2020), who have seen the potential of virtual reality (VR), especially, in facilitating students to better retain information and knowledge and to apply these to real world situations
The purpose of the current study is to explore the use of the most recent VR technologies in a very specific area of education, which is foreign language learning and to provide language teachers and researchers with an overview of the currently available and accessible VR-based language learning apps by identifying both current trends in the area of virtual reality assisted language learning (VRALL) as well as future challenges
Summary
Research in the area of mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) has shown that the use of mobile devices such as smartphones may offer multiple opportunities for supporting foreign language learning. By using technologies such as VR-headsets (e.g., Google Cardboard or Samsung Gear VR) in combination with mobile devices such as smartphones, learning processes, in general, and foreign language learning, in particular, could be enriched, providing learners with novel opportunities to experience and practice learning contents in environments that are usually difficult to implement in conventional learning environments (Freina & Ott, 2015) In this context, the purpose of the current study is to explore the use of the most recent VR technologies in a very specific area of education, which is foreign language learning and to provide language teachers and researchers with an overview of the currently available and accessible VR-based language learning apps by identifying both current trends in the area of VRALL as well as future challenges. Throughout the analysis, the authors intend to give answers to the following research questions (RQ): RQ1: What kinds of teaching/learning approaches do commercial VR-based apps provide?
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