At the end of May, experts in Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) convened in Pittsburgh for the annual CALICO conference, a leading event dedicated to advancing language learning and instruction through technology.
CALICO is the biggest annual U.S.-based conference for technology and language learning. It is known for presenting the latest research on technology and language learning and is where Immerse has established most of our University Research Partnerships. This year, the conference was hosted by the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University, recognized leaders in the VR education space.
Every year, Immerse Director of Research Dr. Tricia Thrasher eagerly anticipates reuniting with colleagues who share her passion for exploring the benefits of educational technology in language learning. This year’s CALICO conference theme, "Confluences and Connections: Bridging Industry and Academia in CALL," was particularly fitting for Immerse to attend and exhibit. Given the significance of the event, Dr. Thrasher was joined by Immerse Lead Curriculum Writer and PhD candidate Carla Consolini, who is currently conducting research on how technology enhances language learning.
Immerse Representation at CALICO
This year, a significant number of Immerse Research Partners gave talks about Immerse’ impact, including researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the Autonomous University of Barcelona, the University of California at Santa Barbara, the University of North Texas, the University of Georgia, and Kyung Hee University. Each partner presented various research projects conducted in partnership with Immerse.
Dr. Thrasher and Carla Consolini also delivered presentations on their work with Immerse, sharing their expertise on the benefits of VR for language learning.
By leading panel discussions, offering workshops, giving presentations, and showcasing the Immerse VR language app, our Research Partners and Internal Team spread the word about the latest insights on the unique ways that virtual reality helps language learners achieve higher levels of conversational fluency.
Workshop - Immersive Reality Exploration: Low Immersion, High Immersion, and Mixed Reality
CALICO offers a workshop series the day before the conference officially begins. This year, our Research Partner at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Dr. Randall Sadler, organized a 3-hour workshop focused on introducing educators to the use of VR for language learning.
Attendees had the chance to learn about the benefits of virtual reality, test out VR headsets, and explore applications that could be used for language learning. As Immerse is the only VR app created specifically for live instruction, attendees spent the bulk of their exploration time checking it out and talking about how it could be used with their own students. Dr. Thrasher also attended the workshop to give a demo of Immerse and answer attendees’ questions.
Panel - Research Methods in Virtual Reality, Virtual Exchange, and Gaming
On the first day of the conference, Dr. Thrasher and Carla Consolini kicked off the morning by speaking on a panel on how to properly conduct research in CALL environments. There are many challenges that arise when doing this type of research, particularly when it comes to collecting and analyzing data.
Dr. Thrasher and Consolini both shared their expertise in this field and provided attendees with concrete examples of how they have navigated these challenges when conducting research with Immerse.
Presentation - Supporting Multilingual Learners: Exploring the Impact of High-Immersive VR on College Students’ Foreign Language Anxiety
Our Research Partners Eunkyoung Elaine Cha and Zheying Zhu from the University of Georgia presented findings from their study measuring the impact that using Immerse has on university students’ foreign language anxiety levels.
In their study, they worked alongside UGA’s Intensive English Program to use Immerse to offer ESL learners additional speaking opportunities. They found that students had a 31% reduction in foreign language anxiety after just four lessons in Immerse! The data also showed that students’ overall learning experience improved by 21% during this time thanks to the immersive and engaging nature of the VR activities.
Presentation - The Effect of Immersive Conversational AI on Immigrant Students' Second Language Production
Uliana Ovsiannikova, another of our Research Partners from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, presented the findings from her M.A. Thesis in TESOL. For her thesis, Ovsiannikova worked with 36 refugee high school students at a low level of ESL over a 6-week period. Each week, they practiced speaking with Immerse’s AI bots for 20 minutes.
Ovsiannikova measured how these conversations impacted students' willingness to communicate and speaking fluency over time. Students experienced a 19% increase in their willingness to communicate in English and a 49% increase in the amount they were speaking during AI conversations after just 1.5 hours total of using Immerse.
Ovsiannikova’s findings are impressive. And we aren’t the only ones to think so - her talk was one of the most attended of the conference!
Tech Showcase - Extending your Reality with XR: Virtual Snacks Along With Your Real Ones
Along with his workshop on VR and language learning, Dr. Randall Sadler and several of his graduate students also organized a technology showcase that gave conference attendees the chance to try out Immerse.
Tech Showcases at CALICO are relatively casual and are hosted during one of the conference dinners. Their purpose is to give attendees a chance to learn informally about technology solutions that they could use with their students.
Panel - Virtual Reality in Language and Intercultural Communication Education: Debating Its Potential Based on Real-life Examples
In one panel, three of Immerse’s Research Partners (Dr. Regina Kaplan-Rakowski (UNT), Dr. Randall Sadler (UIUC), and Dr. Melinda Dooly (Autonomous University of Barcelona), shared their thoughts on the potential of VR. This panel arose from the fact that many Higher Ed stakeholders are still skeptical about adopting VR technology due to the high financial cost.
In the panel, our partners shared examples of how they had used VR successfully in an effort to convey the true value it can bring to language education. They provided concrete examples of how they had used Immerse with students and talked about the value it added.
Presentation - Play and Learn: Lived Experience in iVR (Immerse)
Our research partner from Kyung Hee University, Dr. Sangmin Michelle Lee, also presented findings from her latest study on Immerse. In her study, she had 25 Beginner-level English learners attend 6 45-minute English lessons in Immerse.
Analysis of the data revealed that students were more engaged while learning in Immerse and that they, in turn, learned better. Specifically, learners were engaged for 97.5% of the time they spent in Immerse and they improved their English scores from the pre to post test by 133%!
Panel - Reassessing VR for Language Learning: Has It Fulfilled Its Potential?
Two of Immerse’s Research Partners, Dr. Justine Meyr (University of California, Santa Barbara) and Dr. Randall Sadler (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) spoke on another panel that focused on discussing how to maximize the potential of VR for language learning. The goal was to showcase projects that take advantage of the affordances of VR to create meaningful learning opportunities. Dr. Meyr spoke about the work going on in California for Immerse’s Meta Grant Project.
Dr. Sadler talked about a research study he had done that involved interviewing 30 language teachers about what they felt needed to be included in a VR app in order for it to be most effective for language teaching. He included 11 features (e.g., interactive environments, pre-built scenes, teacher-control) and noted that Immerse checks the box on every one of these features.
Presentation - “I like that I can talk to Spanish speakers in Illinois”: Students’ Perceptions of AI-powered Role Plays in Virtual Reality
Dr. Tricia Thrasher (Director of Research at Immerse) and Uliana Ovsiannikova (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) co-presented on one of the research projects that has been underway at the University of Illinois this past year.
The study examined how conversing with Immerse’s AI avatars impacts high school students learning Spanish and French. Students engaged in AI-powered role plays during class time over the course of a semester. Post-task evaluations followed each role play, and learners completed a survey each time.
The study found that students believed that chatting with the AI avatars positively influenced their learning. They felt confident (87.5%) and relaxed (87.0%) when doing so and thought it helped them learn new phrases and sentences (87.9%).
Presentation - Implementing Large-Scale Virtual Reality-Assisted Language Learning Research
Over the past year and a half, we have had a team of Research Partners working on our grant-funded Meta Research Project, which involved distributing 500 VR headsets to high schools in Illinois, Texas, and California and assessing whether or not using them with Immerse can help students learn languages more effectively.
This project is by far the largest VR language learning project to date. Most studies have relied on small sample sizes due to the difficulty of acquiring and implementing VR equipment in classrooms.
Therefore, this presentation focused on sharing tips on how to handle a project of this scale. The presenters walked through the necessary steps to conduct large-scale projects which encompass successful VR equipment management as well as teacher and student VR training.
Panel - The Digital Confluence: Merging VR and AI in CALL Environments
To wrap up the conference, Dr. Tricia Thrasher and Carla Consolini participated in a panel that examined the real-world applications of AI in VR-based language learning. Featuring industry experts from both Immerse and ImmerseMe, the panel examined how generative AI is being integrated into these platforms to enhance educational outcomes.
Dr. Thrasher shared Immerse’s approach to AI and how we use it to support the live instruction that students receive in our classes. She also talked about our research goals around our AI data and the future of AI at Immerse. She also gave a demo of our AI conversations to the attendees, who enjoyed seeing the realistic responses that the AI conversation partner was able them to give about Pittsburgh where the conference was located.
About Immerse
Immerse is a leading provider of immersive language learning solutions designed to help learners achieve fluency faster and more effectively. Using cutting-edge technology, Immerse offers a unique and engaging learning experience that combines virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and personalized instruction.
Interested in learning how to give your students access to Immerse? Learn more and fill out an interest form at www.immerse.com/bridgethegap
