ERIC Number: EJ1236008
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1436-4522
EISSN: N/A
EFL Learners' Intercultural Communication in an Open Social Virtual Environment
Liaw, Meei-Ling
Educational Technology & Society, v22 n2 p38-55 2019
This study investigates the effects of using open social VR for university English as a foreign language (EFL) learners' intercultural communication learning. The project involved two stages: (1) carefully designed activities for students to practice different language-learning tasks with their peers; (2) implemented in an open social VR environment for intercultural interactions. Data from multiple sources, including surveys, video-recordings, and oral reports, were collected and analyzed. Findings reveal that the participants perceived the social and physical presences afforded by the VR environment positively. Occurrences of intercultural communicative competence were identified in the participants' interactions with international interlocutors in open social VR spaces. Whereas the participants were doubtful of the effectiveness of the approach when practicing language tasks with their peers, they greatly enjoyed the interactions with international interlocutors via the VR technologies in the digital wild context, i.e., applying the resources outside of the classroom setting. Based on the findings of this study, focuses and directions for future research are discussed and suggested.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Second Language Learning, Second Language Instruction, English (Second Language), Intercultural Communication, Communicative Competence (Languages), Computer Simulation, Computer Uses in Education, Student Attitudes, Instructional Effectiveness, Interpersonal Communication, Interaction, Affordances, Technology Integration, College Students, Communication Skills, Speech Communication
International Forum of Educational Technology & Society. Available from: National Sun Yat-sen University. Department of Information Management, 70, Lien-Hai Rd, Kaohsiung, 80424, Taiwan. Web site: http://www.ifets.info
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Taiwan
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A