Research & Thought Leadership

Immersive language learning in a tech-driven world: Can it be done?

Language is an intrinsically human skill. As such, it is a living thing that moves and evolves with its speakers, carrying with it history, culture, and personality like nothing else can. Needless to say, we are therefore constantly immersed in language in our daily lives.

This is why typically the most effective language learning method is cultural immersion through dedicated travel experiences. Indeed, when comparing traditional classroom learning with any type of experiential – or experience-led – learning, the results speak for themselves. As pioneers in immersive language learning since 1965, EF Education First – the world’s largest private education company – has an unparalleled understanding of the history and landscape of the ‘learning by doing’ methodology for language study. Positioned thus to leverage decades of language learning experience, we at Hult EF Corporate Education continue to explore how to bring immersive and experiential learning to the modern business world.

Namely, we recognize that today, technology dominates, virtual teaching is on the rise, and we are more conscious than ever of accessibility and travel constraints for many across the globe. In this context, how can we provide an immersive experience effective enough to reproduce the benefits of traveling?

A departure from the traditional classroom

When virtual lessons became a reality, they replicated the traditional classroom; one participant teaches, while the others listen and ask questions. Such conferencing software was designed for meetings rather than education, but nonetheless most online classes have not significantly evolved beyond this point. Meanwhile, language learning technologies – and virtual immersive technologies in general such as AR/VR – have advanced in leaps and bounds.

The virtual world, therefore, offers great potential for online immersion in studies, both in live and on-demand teaching. Yet for any such technology to be successful and effective, the quality of both the teachers and the technology they employ must be very high to achieve engagement. Online attention span is notoriously lower than in offline scenarios, and users today are impatient with any inconvenience in technology, such as slow loading, or having to use more than one software.

In the context of language learning, it is essential to both study and experience language, and both are made possible online by new technologies. So the question of whether it’s possible to replicate immersive language learning online comes down to this; How do we bring immersive technologies into the virtual classroom?

The best of both worlds: Immersive virtual experiences and teacher-led study

Imagine yourself at a foreign airport, struggling to find the words to locate your gate number with only limited local language skills. You’ve had some lessons in the language, but you’ve never attempted a real conversation in that language before. Do you feel prepared?

With traditional language study alone – whether online or offline – it is likely the answer is no. To successfully mimic and practice the experience of foreign language dialogue, students need to be immersed in environments and contexts that simulate the reality of live communication.

This does not imply that the value of teacher-led classes has lessened, however. Learning the structure and systems of language, as well as memorizing vocabulary, is vital for laying the foundation of language comprehension. It is the experiential side of language learning that has historically been tricky to integrate into the traditional in-person classroom. And, crucially, this limitation does not apply in the virtual sphere.

Online virtual environments become more sophisticated every day. These innovations can place students in virtual simulations and interactive spaces, decidedly improving on the typical ‘Zoom’-style online classes and even providing immersive benefits that the traditional classroom cannot. Effectively, digital learning presents a kind of ‘open world’ wherein any type of teaching and experience can be offered.

A great example of this is EF’s Hyperclass, an immersive and interactive virtual classroom that combines one-on-one teaching with role-playing simulations. With a live teacher and using the self-same ‘learning by doing’ methodology that makes travel so valuable, you can test your capacity to face difficulties at the airport, order food at a restaurant, or conduct a business meeting, all in a virtual environment.

The key for us was not to simply try and digitize what happens in a physical classroom, but instead, explore the opportunities that are unique to a digital setting to create a ground-breaking learning experience.

Tim Ackroyd, EF EdTech’s Creative Director

Immersive role-playing, one-on-one training, and engaging interactive whiteboards combined; Hyperclass is proof that online language learning is evolving beyond even the traditional classroom, creating opportunities for well-rounded, immersive study and experience in your pocket.