The rapid advancement in technology has made learning much easier such that students can now speak not only their native language but new languages like English just by utilizing virtual reality English learning. As of today, the English language is the lingua franca for professional dialogue and international communication in the world which has made it imperative for everyone to learn and know how to speak English. The ability to effectively interact in English can create avenues for new opportunities in the professional world and even your personal life.
Virtual learning is an online classroom platform where students take language lessons from educators and have access to the resources used for teaching. Virtual learning no doubt plays a significant role in learning English proficiently and developing English skills. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to maximize virtual learning for both writing and learning English fluently
Enjoy Virtual Classroom
Mastering English proficiently begins with enjoying the virtual classroom environment. Virtual learning has modernized education by enabling English language learners and non-native speakers of English to learn in a more personalized way. The classroom offers real-life experiences thereby providing students with opportunities to interact with peers, ask questions from their teachers, practice how to speak English, and access lesson plans ahead of the class.
Classroom Engagement and Consistent Practice
The virtual environment gives the experience and creates a learning atmosphere. Thus, active engagement in classroom activities is one way to maximize virtual learning for English skills. Interact with your educators, create a study group with your peers, ask questions, and participate in classroom activities.
Also, using the resources provided in the classroom for personal practice boosts English skills. Other forms of consistent practice like interaction with friends from English-speaking countries, using vr voice analysis, engaging in community forums of other English learners, and watching English videos are also helpful.
Leverage Technology
Leverage the advantage of technology to develop your English skills. There are many resources, lessons, English courses, and language learning apps available on the internet for download. These language apps can be useful for learning business English, grammar, spelling, pronunciation, and reading in English.
Exploring Virtual Learning Environments
In order to make virtual language learning less abstract and look like real life teaching in a physical classroom, the idea of creating virtual learning environments was conceived and with technology, it has become a useful tool for learning any new language. A virtual learning environment (VLE) is a form of virtual space like a virtual classroom where teachers and students can connect and interact.
Virtual learning environments offer a wide range of new opportunities and can be therefore explored by students who want to learn English. There are different forms of virtual learning environments available for language learning depending on the choice of each student however, they differ based on how educators and students interact with one another.
Synchronous VLE
This is a type of VLE learning in which both the student and the educator are online simultaneously. They interact with each other and have live sessions using online features such as webinars, video conferencing, and online tutorials.
Asynchronous VLE
In this VLE learning, learners and teachers do not have to interact and be online simultaneously. Teachers upload English lesson plans and resources on websites such as Module and Learning Management System (LMS) at any convenient time, so the students can access the lessons.
Hybrid VLE
This virtual environment is a mixture of the first two forms in which some parts of the English course are taught online while the remaining aspects are accessible online lessons. Teachers can create time to interact with each student and at the same time provide opportunities for students to learn at their own pace.
Benefits of Virtual Language Labs
Virtual language labs play an important role in the process of learning a new language by helping students easily develop the needed language skills. For students learning English in schools, virtual language labs assist in learning basic English skills, intonation, grammar and pronunciation, and vocabulary, among others. Virtual experiences have the ability to inspire students in a unique way. Here are some key benefits of virtual language labs;
Enhances Speaking Practice
The virtual language labs setting is designed in such a way that each student can speak simultaneously without interfering with others in the classroom. Through this method, students have a longer time to practice English and enhance their language skills without getting distracted.
Boosts Students Performance
Unlike the traditional methods of teaching, virtual language labs aid teachers to individually monitor each child. It also helps to develop self confidence without feeling inferior to a colleague who is a native speaker.
Reduces Classroom Distraction
There’s some level of isolation in the language labs because each student plugs in a vr headset during lessons. This reduces side talk, noise-making, and other distractions during lessons.
Implementing Virtual Reality in English Curriculum
Having identified the benefits of virtual learning and the role it plays in learning English, implementing the vr app into the ICT system of schools will make learning English easy for students. Vr helps student to communicate, interact, and be in touch with their surroundings as they learn. The way the vr works is through the use of vr headsets such as Meta Quest. Over time, vr has found its application in education by combining augmented reality and mixed reality experiences to create real life situations, build creative thinking and intelligence. For example, science students can study how the body works and even perform surgeries through vr.
Implementing vr in English curriculum for schools will help English learners to develop English skills and learn a new language even faster. Vr can be slotted into the English curriculum during the English practice period. Vr provides opportunities for immersive experiences to students. This is cardinal in learning English because it helps students to learn the culture and interact with native speakers.
The time of studying texts and watching English videos in the classroom can be used for virtual reality learning to help students immerse in a virtual environment and experience a virtual world where the people in it are native speakers of English. Learning a second language can be tough for students but vr learning can be helpful in learning.
Finally, vr allows students to go on virtual field trips which can also be added to the English courses in schools. During virtual trips, students have the opportunity to use vr to practice English by talking to English speakers and at the same time learn how to pronounce words and speak fluently.