IMMERSE insights:
- Research shows learners’ English speaking skills increase 6 times faster in IMMERSE compared with in a traditional classroom.
- When learning through VR English lessons in IMMERSE, English learners’ listening, speaking, and reading skills all improve significantly faster.
- Learners find classes in IMMERSE more useful and fun, and they also feel more confident speaking English.
The traditional way of learning a foreign language is in a classroom, of course. Recently, however, Japanese researchers discovered that when university students study English in the VR language platform IMMERSE, they not only find learning more enjoyable, they also learn English much more quickly.
What does the actual research say?
Several research studies conducted at Aoyama Gaukin University show impressive benefits to learning a language in IMMERSE’s VR language platform.
Students’ English speaking skills improved faster in IMMERSE - much faster
A group of Aoyama Gaukin University students learning English took 1-3 classes per month in IMMERSE. Their English skills were measured via the TOEIC English speaking test at the start of the study and again 4 months later.
Students’ TOEIC scores increased on average by more than 100 points. With traditional classroom learning, the average increase for Japanese students after 3 years of study is only 56 points.
In other words, after 4 months of classes in IMMERSE, learners’ TOEIC speaking scores increased nearly twice as much as learners who spent 3 years studying in a traditional classroom.
Students’ English listening and reading skills also improved significantly
58 English language learners took between three and twelve 30-minute lessons in IMMERSE. At the start of the study, they took listening and reading tests to determine their English proficiency. At the end of the study, their skills were tested again.
Their listening scores increased on average from 260 to 322 (21.3%), which was a significant improvement. Similarly, their reading scores increased significantly, from an average of 260 to an average of 303 (15.3%).
How does IMMERSE speed up language learning?
The rapid learning that students experience in IMMERSE might seem almost magical, but there are good reasons for it. In fact, the entire platform was designed around the latest research on learning science and language acquisition.
VR is the ideal environment for learning a new language.
In a richly interactive VR environment like IMMERSE, you can work with language in context. Picking up and using objects as you learn to talk about them leads to stronger language learning.
And in a social context like IMMERSE, where you can learn in real time with other students and teachers, you’ll gain experience using the language for authentic communication.
IMMERSE provides a gentle immersion experience.
Language immersion is considered by many to be the ideal way to learn a language. However, as you probably know if you’ve ever tried learning from watching movies or from travel, it can be overwhelming (and ineffective) to try to learn on your own simply by listening to native speakers in rapid conversation.
Instead, IMMERSE lets you experience language immersion at your own level, whether you already have some knowledge of the language or you’re just starting out. And you’ll be doing it as part of a supportive community of fellow learners and friendly teachers.
Learning in IMMERSE, whether through a VR headset or a desktop, has already helped many learners speak Spanish, English, and French with more confidence. There’s simply no better way to learn.
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