VIRTUAL REALITY TAKES US BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

1) How do you use Virtual Reality (VR) technology in your Mandarin classes?

VR is a tool to add dimension to my classes. VR headsets have seemingly no limit and I would attest that this is true educationally as well.

With or without a VR headset, I teach my students how to have meaningful conversations with someone that is a native Chinese speaker. But with the VR headset, students are essentially “leaving” the classroom and are fully immersed in a 360-degree location speaking with an avatar.

In addition, we’ve been able to “travel” to China using Google Maps, virtually visiting any location at any given time. This technology helps me teach at a cultural level when we do class projects on the landscapes and provinces of China. VR headsets help my students not only learn about a specific place on the map, but actually create the feeling that they’ve physically been there.

In the near future, I will have my Mandarin 3 and 4 classes give each classmate a virtual tour through Disney’s Epcot Center. The tour will be conducted completely in Chinese. As one student virtually tours Epcot, the class will follow along via a projection onto our Smart TV. It is effective because everyone will have a chance to present and everyone will be involved simultaneously.

2) How do you feel the VR headsets have affected your students’ abilities to learn the language and culture?

Learning a new language is tough enough - that’s why it is so important to make it fun!

Mandarin is so multifaceted –culturally and grammatically –everything is composed differently when compared to English, and my students find that so fascinating. The VR headsets have been an asset in that they create an opportunity for natural language acquisition. It’s so new and fun that everyone wants to join in and the learning happens with ease.

3) What is your favorite type of lesson or assignment using the headsets?

IMMERSE ME is the best software we currently use for language-learning through virtual reality. The program has many lessons that always seem to be a perfect match with the chapter that I’m teaching. Furthermore, my students get to speak with native Chinese speakers that are both male and female and this is always good for interpersonal and presentational language learning; giving students a chance to engage with the world and someone other than myself.

4) What other forms of technology do you use in the classroom?

While VR is currently at the forefront, my Mandarin classes often incorporate video projects as well. We have a private YouTube channel where videos are archived. The wonderful advantage for students that stick with Mandarin through the years is that as they become seniors, I can show them videos of things they learned when they were freshmen. The videos are fun to make and a great way to help them retain information.

5) In the future, what other ways could you envision St. Joes using the VR headsets?

Without a doubt, we can use them for any robotics classes or even art classes. For example, I recently stumbled upon an app that allows you to create sculptures virtually. Using the school’s new 3D printers, we could physically print out our virtual sculptures, which I think the students would love. The technology is either there already or it is currently being worked on. I’m sure that very soon, there will be an infinite number of educational apps to come.