Decoding The Complex Puzzle Of Immersive Language Learning
Have you ever felt like diving into uncharted waters when learning a new language, where staying afloat is a challenging task? Amidst the sea of uncertainty, immersive learning emerges as a guiding beacon. At the very least, experts highlight the diverse benefits of total language immersion. But what lies beneath the surface? We’ve delved into the core, exploring the fundamentals of immersive language learning and the requirements of suitable applications. Join our expedition: Discover our comprehensive language learner’s journey and uncover profound insights from our interviews with Julia Hoffmann, Language Trainer, and Carolin Ludwig, HR Specialist Learning & Development.
The story so far
You missed our previous article about our development of a prototype for immersive vocabulary training? No worries, you can revisit the teaser here:
For an initial reality check, we reached out to our Taikonauten team outside of our Research & Development Lab to gather their feedback and impressions of the prototype. Here is a brief summary:
- Concept: Language Defense acts as a unique and innovative supplementary tool for vocabulary training within a Mixed Reality environment.
- Degree of immersion: While utilizing immersive technology doesn’t guarantee an immersive learning experience by default, it’s primarily about seamlessly blending the digital and real worlds.
- Functionality: Our respondents expressed a desire for a greater variety of features to accommodate their preferred learning styles, such as incorporating listening and comprehension tasks.
- Applicability in office life: Recognizing the significance of communication in business settings, we aimed to target professional language learners specifically. While our exemplary prototype showcases promise, there is ample room for further enhancement to tailor it to the demands of office life.
- Our Conclusion: Immersive language learning encompasses a multifaceted landscape. Thus, we delved deeper into its fundamentals to elevate our research to the next level. You will find our results in the following sections of this article.
What does ‘immersive language learning’ actually mean?
To ensure a common understanding, let’s define the term: Close your eyes and imagine yourself relaxing in a warm bathtub, surrounded by fragrant bubbles gently gliding over your skin. The warm water envelops you and as you sink in, the world outside fades away. This feeling closely resembles the concept of immersive learning, where you metaphorically immerse yourself in a ‘language bath’, fully surrounded by the language in a natural way.
It involves hearing, speaking and learning in authentic everyday contexts, experiencing a new language in familiar surroundings. In this way, you acquire it as naturally as you learned your mother tongue — without any pressure or vocabulary stress. Sounds comfortable, doesn’t it?
How do people learn? The phases of language learning
Before delving into books, we delved into our personal wellspring of truth to answer this question: our own learning experiences. Take yourself a moment to reflect on your past touch points with language learning — what comes to your mind?
In open discussions within our team, we shared our individual learning adventures. From the initial stumbling steps to the discomfort of using new vocabulary in real-life scenarios, to the eventual confidence gained through intuitive conversations: we quickly recognized the varied perceptions and experiences of individual learning. It becomes evident that the learning process encompasses multiple stages, each accompanied by a range of emotions and demands.
After a few more hours poring over literature and engaging in enlightening discussions with experts, we distilled our insights into a comprehensive learner’s journey:
Phase of ‘Initiation’
First and foremost, language learning is not different from anything else in life: it all starts and ends with motivation. The most sustainable decisions to learn a new language are based on personal goals — and this factor is often more important than you might think.
We asked Julia Hoffmann, Language Trainer, and Carolin Ludwig, HR Specialist Learning & Development, about their professional experience with learners’ processes and what they believe is crucial:
“Motivation is key. Not just at the beginning, but throughout the whole Learner’s Journey.”
– Julia Hoffmann
“I believe motivation is actually the cornerstone of the Learner’s Journey. Having a clear personal goal is crucial, as it determines whether one is intrinsically or extrinsically motivated.”
– Carolin Ludwig
Let’s illustrate this with two different exemplary scenarios:
Scenario 1 — intrinsic motivation: You are visiting Spain and are completely impressed by the country, the people, the culture and the language. Thus, you decide to move and build a life there. This would be a strong reason to learn the Spanish language.
Scenario 2 — extrinsic motivation: You never thought about learning Spanish but suddenly it becomes popular among your friends and colleagues. Influenced by social pressure and the power of trends, you decide to learn the language to stay connected and competitive in your social and professional circles.
Once the decision to learn a new language has been made, the planning begins. At this stage you start to explore your learning preferences — by gut feeling, former experiences, research or talking to others. Consider asking yourself the following exemplary questions:
Do I prefer to learn…
- individually or with peers
- indoors or outdoors
- while at rest or in motion
- in quiet places or in public space
- with self-disciplined or with guidance from a teacher
- by tackling tasks piece by piece or under deadlines and time pressure
- during specific focused times or flexible throughout the day
- …
The list of possible questions is as diverse as learning preferences themselves and these preferences can also change over time. It may sound cliché, but the most valuable approach is always to listen to your intuition and rely on your best practices gained through personal experience.
Did you already know: The concept of ‘learning styles’ is a topic of debate in the educational field. This theory suggests that individuals absorb and process information more effectively in specific ways. However, scientific evidence refuting these theories has emerged, along with criticism for hindering learning progress. The lack of concrete neuroscientific connections and evidence of their efficacy, coupled with their failure to consider factors such as subject matter, prior knowledge and motivation, undermines their validity. But what remains true is that we all possess unique learning preferences that may vary depending on the context.
Phase of ‘Learn & Grow’
Every start poses its challenges. Building language foundations requires extensive vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation training, but above all: it demands continuity across the learners journey. Consider a young child learning to speak for the first time: the knowledge accumulates through experimental learning, starting with simple sounds like “nana”, evolving into words like “banana” and forming into sentences like “The banana is tasty”.
“In the process of learning and growing, not only objects but also concepts require specific vocabulary. Mixed Reality could be a valuable tool in connecting with vocabulary that is difficult to explain.”
– Julia Hoffmann
We concur with Julia’s idea. Reconsider the example of the young child: how would you explain the concept of “tasty” using vocabulary alone? It’s more than just a word, it’s a sensation.
Let’s stay on the subject of vocabulary scenarios in Mixed Reality for a moment: Our Language Defense prototype also finds its place within the phase of ‘Learn & Grow‘, serving as a secondary learning tool to train existing vocabulary knowledge. We asked Carolin about her thoughts on Language Defense:
“I suppose Language Defense serves as a fun supplement for vocabulary training, particularly for people with competitive personalities. However, the most effective technique depends on individual learning preferences and I personally prefer practicing through conversation.”
– Carolin Ludwig
A fair point indeed. Competitive settings aren’t suitable for everyone, highlighting the importance of offering a variety of learning methods to accommodate diverse preferences.
As you progress further in the journey, you’ll delve into the core aspects of language learning beyond vocabulary, including sentence translation and mastering different verb forms. While this stage may be challenging, the tangible progress achieved through dedicated effort is incredibly rewarding and lays a solid foundation for practical application.
Phase of ‘Apply & Immerse’
Speaking of practicing through conversation: Knowing basic vocabulary and verb forms alone is often insufficient in real-life situations. To truly connect with a foreign language, you need to apply your skills in context, particularly emphasizing real-life context, cultural immersion, body language or diverse dialects. Therefore, the phase of ‘Apply & Immerse’ marks a milestone in experiencing language naturally, perfectly aligning with our definition of immersive learning described at the beginning.
Julia and Carolin emphasize the significance of language application and social interaction in the learners’ journey:
“Practical application is definitely essential. Speaking and using the language yourself in a context is the name of the game.”
– Julia Hoffmann
“I believe that learning is most effective when there are social components involved, such as having someone to talk to. On this social level, Mixed Reality could come into play for companies without requiring additional language trainers or as a supplement to guided courses.”
– Carolin Ludwig
Indeed, Mixed Reality not only offers a safe space to freely experiment with language knowledge in the early stages of ‘Apply & Immerse’, but also supports later stages where natural application becomes challenging without exposure to native speakers, extended stays in the country, access to language trainers, peers or other resources. Simulations in Mixed Reality could effectively address these barriers, making immersive language learning accessible to everyone regardless of location and social resources.
Phase of ‘Continuous Practice’
Have you ever studied a language in school only to find yourself unable to remember much of the vocabulary or hold a conversation in that language years later? Many of us can relate to this experience. Without consistent practice, language skills can gradually fade away. The key takeaway? Practice, practice, and practice some more.
Let’s encapsulate the phase of ‘Continuous Practice’ with a paraphrase of a well-known quote from Jhumpa Lahiri: “Languages are like muscles; if you don’t use them, they atrophy.”
Phase of ‘Forgetting’
Which brings us to the final phase of our journey: forgetting. Sometimes it’s not easy to stay focused on our language learning goals. As mentioned earlier, motivation is a key element of a learners’ journey. If it wanes, the phase of forgetting becomes a looming threat. We asked Julia to summarize her main strategy to maintain motivation:
“The crucial thing is to engage with content and topics that truly interest you. That’s why I rely on social interaction with learners to connect with them, understand their interests and consequently sustain their motivation.”
– Julia Hoffmann
Let’s make this more tangible with an example: Imagine you are an English language learner. If you start reading articles on topics that don’t interest you solely for practice, you probably won’t keep it up for long. However, watching your favorite series in English might enhance your motivation to practice more frequently without feeling forced. Makes sense, doesn’t it?
On the one hand, this consideration is crucial when developing future language learning applications. But ultimately, it’s up to you. If you find yourself constantly bored while learning a language, it’s time to make a change. Explore new methods, talk to like-minded people, engage with content that piques your interest.
Well, what do we learn from that?
In all honesty, if language learning were a cocktail, its ingredient list would overflow an entire menu cart. Achieving sustainable learning outcomes demands a careful blend of diverse elements. Thus, developing immersive language learning applications requires keen consideration of these aspects, especially when targeting business use. Let’s echo this with the summary from Carolin:
“Learning tools must be fast, easy and accessible, aligning precisely with unique learning objectives and preferences. Additionally, transparent data handling is paramount, particularly in business settings.”
– Carolin Ludwig
With these insights in mind, let’s make a clean sweep and address some open questions from our previous article:
1. What are the characteristics of immersive language learning?
At the outset, we defined immersive language learning as the concept of being fully surrounded by the language in a natural way, akin to soaking in a ‘language bath’. Now, let’s align our recent findings with this guiding principle:
- Content personalization: Tailoring content and pace to individual interests and proficiency levels ensures relevance and effective learning.
- Authentic contexts: Providing real-world language scenarios for practical application immerses learners in authentic language usage.
- Multimodal approach: Utilizing various learning methods, including visual, auditory and kinesthetic, accommodates different learning preferences and enhances comprehension.
- Feedback and assessment: Offering immediate guidance and evaluation fosters transparent progress towards personal language goals, ensuring continuous improvement.
- Dynamic engagement: Keeping learners engaged and motivated with captivating activities tailored to their personal interests and emotional stages sustains enthusiasm and commitment to learning.
- Community and collaboration: Encouraging peer interaction and support creates a sense of belonging and facilitates collaborative learning experiences.
2. How do people learn best and how does our prototype align with these principles?
Picture the optimal approach to language learning as a puzzle, where each method and individual preference represents a unique piece. As these pieces converge, they create a mosaic of effective learning, reflecting the diversity of learning preferences. Our Language Defense prototype addresses one aspect, vocabulary training, acting as a single piece in this intricate puzzle.
3. Does the combination of vocabulary training and a tower defense approach truly enhance language learning, or are we only scratching the surface?
As said, Language Defense supports one specific aspect of a learner’s journey with specific preferences. Yet, to holistically enhance language learning at each step, we need an approach that integrates all the facets of immersive language learning. Whether through separate tools or all-in-one solutions, this comprehensive approach ensures each piece finds its place in the puzzle of effective language learning.
4. What are the essential requirements of an immersive language learning application?
Now, let’s connect the dots. Considering the characteristics of immersive language learning and insights gained from expert interviews, we derive the following criteria for an effective immersive language learning application:
- Personalized learning paths: The application should employ machine learning algorithms or adaptive technologies to tailor learning content, pacing and difficulty levels based on individual proficiency, interests, and learning history.
- Safe language exploration: The application should cultivate a secure environment, much like in Extended Reality, enabling language experimentation and practice at every level of confidence in authentic contexts. This could involve utilizing tools such as voice or text chatbots, virtual classrooms or realistic simulations.
- Adaptive Feedback Mechanisms: Incorporating natural language processing (NLP) and speech recognition technologies, the application should provide real-time feedback on pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary usage, helping learners identify and correct errors effectively.
- Real-World application: The application should immerse learners in everyday scenarios, such as ordering food at a restaurant or navigating through a city.
- Engaging methods: Leveraging multimedia elements like audio, video, and interactive graphics to engage learners with varied methods and reinforce language skills.
- Social features: Integration with social networking platforms or online communities enables learners to interact with peers, join discussion groups and participate in language exchange programs, fostering collaborative learning and cultural exchange.
Did you already know: Popular language learning apps such as Duolingo, Lingoda and Babbel incorporate gamification elements to boost user engagement and motivation. This approach leverages our natural desire for competition and achievement, making the learning journey more enjoyable and rewarding. Cheers to that!
Hot on the heels of tomorrow’s language immersion
That was a lot to take in, but we’re still at the beginning. Armed with these insights, we constructed a solid ground to build enhanced use cases for learning applications in Mixed Reality — driven by artificial intelligence and tailored to the diverse needs of the complex concept of immersive language learning. Curious about our refined vision of future learning? Follow our Taikonauten Magazine and don’t miss our upcoming article!
Editorial: Shirley Schmolke
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