End of Semester Immerse VR Event Held at World Languages and Digital Humanities Studio

On Tuesday, Nov. 19, the World Languages and Digital Humanities Studio hosted its final event of the semester: Immerse VR–Implementation Results, a follow-up to the Immerse VR launch event held in September.  

Two faculty members in the Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures — Maria Comsa, a teaching assistant professor of French, and Sung-Hye Yang, an instructor of Spanish — showcased their integration of this innovative software into established lessons for their respective language courses. More than 25 attendees came to the event.  

Immerse VR is an AI-powered platform designed to revolutionize language learning by facilitating open conversations through web browsers or headsets. It features one-on-one vocabulary and pronunciation practice with speech recognition, alongside listening and speaking exercises guided by AI-generated prompts in the target language, offering an innovative and immersive approach to language acquisition.

Comsa shared her thoughts and experiences, along with student feedback, on using Immerse in the French classroom:  

The most difficult component of learning a foreign language is speaking. Especially at the beginner level, students need practice to learn how to create meaning using the vocabulary and grammar from class. The Immerse platform is an excellent tool for practicing speaking beyond the classroom, as it emphasizes pronunciation and conversation in a self-paced, low-anxiety environment. Students in multiple sections and levels of French language courses explored Immerse for a few weeks this semester. They practiced vocabulary and AI-guided conversations for three weeks using activities aligned with the course curriculum. They were able to assess their pronunciation and speaking abilities in real time. Overall, students enjoyed the experience and found that practicing in Immerse improved their ability to communicate in French more smoothly and confidently. We look forward to implementing Immerse for a whole semester next year so that we can better assess the benefits of supplementing in-person instruction. 

Yang shared her thoughts and the experiences of students of Spanish on using Immerse in their courses:  

Foreign language instruction often struggles to provide personalized feedback. Immerse, an AI-powered platform, has successfully addressed this challenge, enhancing student outcomes by improving pronunciation and fostering communication skills. For four weeks, I integrated Immerse VR into Elementary and Advanced Spanish courses as a daily supplementary practice. Students appreciated its immediate feedback on pronunciation and grammar, which boosted confidence and supported real-time self-correction. The vocabulary and pronunciation practice reinforced foundational skills and introduced practical expressions, while the platform's low-anxiety environment and flexibility allowed students to practice speaking without fear and fit language learning into their schedules seamlessly. Looking ahead, refining course design will further enhance Immerse VR's impact. I plan to implement it for an entire semester next year to explore its full potential. 

If you would like to implement Immerse VR into your language classroom or have any questions about the platform, please reach out to the World Languages and Digital Humanities Studio at wldhs@uark.edu.