How 98.8% of English language learners increased their fluency and became more comfortable speaking English in just a few hours

Immerse insights:

• 98.8% of learners said their anxiety went down and their speaking skills improved after just two hours of language learning with VR English app Immerse.
• Learner’s speaking scores on the TOEIC test went up by 8.5% after 200 minutes of English classes in Immerse.
• Learning with others in our virtual world will help you improve your speaking fluency, too!

If you’re learning a new language, you’ll find plenty of tools to help you grasp the grammar and build your vocabulary. But after months or even years of studying, a lot of people still find it difficult to actually speak to other people in the language they’ve been trying so hard to learn.

The good news is that research shows that learning with other people in Immerse’s VR foreign language speaking activities has helped learners improve their fluency and feel more comfortable talking.

What does the research actually say?

Studies conducted at Chuo University in Japan show that studying in Immerse brings real results:

Japanese university students had a very positive experience learning English in Immerse. 

After just three lessons, 98.8% of them said that Immerse lessons improved their English speaking abilities. 

They also reported that using avatars reduced their anxiety about speaking in a foreign language.

Learning in Immerse increased learners’ standardized test scores

A group of English learners took the internationally recognized TOEIC speaking test before and after engaging in five 40-minute classes in Immerse. 

The results? 

Their speaking scores went up an average of 10 points. That’s an 8.5% increase after just five lessons.

Why does learning in VR increase fluency?

Virtual reality is one of the most effective paths to language fluency for several reasons. Two of the main advantages are:

Language immersion

Language immersion is widely regarded as one of the most effective language learning methods - and VR brings language immersion to you. 

Want to practice ordering food from real people in a restaurant? Longing to make new friends who speak the language and just hang out shooting hoops or playing games? Wish you could practice going through customs in Spanish, French, or English? Do all this and more from the comfort of your own computer or Meta Quest 2 headset.

Avatars

One of the biggest obstacles to fluency is apprehensiveness. You can’t get the speaking practice you need in a new language if you’re too nervous to have a conversation. Awkward social exchanges often keep learners from breaking through to new levels of speaking fluency.

Being able to learn in the guise of an avatar has been shown again and again to significantly reduce the fear of speaking a foreign language. Jump into Immerse and choose an avatar, and you’ll probably find that trying to talk in your new language suddenly seems less scary and more fun.

Learning in Immerse, whether through a VR headset or a desktop, has already helped many learners speak Spanish, English, and French with more confidence. There’s simply no better way to learn.

Research source: 

Saito, Y. (2021). Potential and challenges of the use of VR in English education. KOTESOL International Conference 2021. Seoul, South Korea