Virtual Reality in the Language Classroom: Theory and Practice

Abstract

Virtual reality (VR) has turned into a buzzword among educators over the past few years as tools and devices continuously get cheaper and better. Google Expeditions, for instance, is a VR educational tool that allows teachers to take students on virtual field trips without leaving the classroom. The teacher can lead a tour guiding students in the VR environment and monitoring their actions while calling their attention to specific points of interest in a virtual space. There are numerous ways VR apps such as Expeditions could be integrated into EFL/ESL lessons. This write-up begins with a brief introduction to virtual reality, in comparison with augmented reality, and VR devices available in the market. This theoretical section will be followed by instructions on setting up an Expeditions kit and ways to take students on virtual tours built around lessons designed to develop language skills. For those interested in creating their own customized VR tours, Tour Creator, another VR platform also developed by Google, will be introduced. This practice-oriented paper could be useful to teachers interested in energizing their teaching and engaging their students in ways they have never ventured before.