(2345) FRENCH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE: DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF AN IMMERSIVE VIRTUAL REALITY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

摘要

The use of immersive Virtual Reality (VR) technology in the teaching of French as a foreign language is the aim of this work. Research questions refer to (i) the feasibility and (ii) the efficiency of the VR- aided approach for teaching French to beginners. The- “VRFLE” educational platform, designed and developed using the Unity game engine for use with the Oculus Rift VR headset and Leap Motion controller, is used as the basis for an educational intervention organized in two phases. The first phase serves as a necessary step for the smooth introduction of the students (volunteering adults) to e-learning and the use of technology, while the second phase proceeds to offer the actual VR-aided courses. Both phases are evaluated as to the learning outcomes achieved and as to the experience and attitudes they have generated in the students with respect to VR in general and to VR-aided learning specifically. Evaluation results indicate a strong positive potential of VR and immersion technologies as learning tools, under a suitable and carefully designed educational scenario.