A Study on Task-based Elementary English Speaking Classes using the Metaverse Platform ‘Gather.town’

Abstract

Objectives The purpose of this study is to present a teaching plan using a metaverse that allows elementary school learners to immerse themselves in learning with interest and interest as a task-oriented activity that can provide learners with opportunities to directly use English. Accordingly, a plan for elementary English speaking class was presented using Gather.town, one of the metaverse platforms. Methods For this purpose, this study first investigated current task-based instruction models and reformulated a task performance model for elementary English classes. For the task-based class design, the task-based instruction model of Willis (1996) and Skehan (1996) was modified to fit the purpose of this study, and according to the class development, it consisted of the pre-task stage (task introduction), task performance stage (speaking practice), and post-task stage (presentation). As a task-based activity for each stage, a lesson design method using Gather.town was introduced. Results The functions of Gather.town that can be utilized in each stage were introduced, and the class development and activity methods using the functions were presented. The metaverse-using class design model presented in this study can be used in whole or in part as a class operation plan according to the judgment of the teacher, considering elementary school students' cognitive development ability, task performance, proficiency, and English level. Conclusions Through realistic speaking tasks using metaverse, learners' immersion in the task situation can be increased, and it is expected to bring positive effects in terms of learners' interest in class and usefulness in learning to speak. In addition, the educational use of metaverse is expected to provide an opportunity to increase interest in English and improve the listening and speaking skills of English, which is a target language, by practicing English in an elementary English class environment where there are few opportunities to use English directly.