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Effects of Linguistic Immersion Synthesis on Foreign Language Learning Using Virtual Reality Agents

가상현실 에이전트 외국어 교사를 활용한 외국어 학습의 몰입 융합 효과

  • Kang, Jeonghyun (Department of Metaverse Convergence, Kwangwoon University Graduate School) ;
  • Kwon, Seulhee (School of Media & Communication, Kwangwoon University) ;
  • Chung, Donghun (School of Media & Communication, Kwangwoon University)
  • Received : 2024.02.02
  • Accepted : 2024.03.07
  • Published : 2024.03.31

Abstract

This study investigates the effectiveness of virtual reality agents as foreign language instructors with focus on the impact of different native language backgrounds and instructional roles. The agents were first distinguished as native or non-native speakers treated as a between-subject factor, and then assigned roles as either teachers or salespersons considered within-subject factors. An immersive virtual environment was developed for this experiment, and a 2×2 mixed factorial design was carried out. In an experimental group of 72 university students, statistically significant interactions were found in learning satisfaction, memory, and recall between the native/non-native status of the agents and their roles. With regard to learning confidence and presence, however, no statistically significant differences were observed in both interaction effects and main effects. Contextual learning in a virtual environment was found to enhance learning effectiveness and satisfaction, with the nativeness and the role of agents influencing learners' memory; thus highlighting the effectiveness of using virtual reality agents in foreign language learning. This suggests that varied approaches can have positive cognitive and emotional impacts on learners, thereby providing valuable theoretical and empirical implications.

이 연구는 가상현실 에이전트 외국어 강사를 활용한 외국어 학습 효과를 검증하는 것을 목표로 한다. 외국어 학습맥락을 고려해 가상현실 에이전트를 원어민과 비원어민으로 구분해 이를 실험자 간 요인으로, 에이전트의 역할은 교사와 판매원으로 나누어 실험자 내 요인으로 설정한 후, 몰입형 가상환경 콘텐츠를 직접 개발하고, 2×2 혼합요인설계를 하여 실험을 진행했다. 자발적으로 참여한 72명의 대학생을 대상으로 실험을 한 결과, 학습만족감, 기억, 회상에서 에이전트의 원어민 여부와 역할간 상호작용 효과가 통계적으로 유의미하게 나타났으나, 학습자신감, 프레즌스는 상호작용 효과와 주효과 모두에서 유의미한 차이를 보이지 않았다. 가상환경에서의 맥락적 학습이 학습 효과와 만족감을 증진한다는 결과와 에이전트의 역할이 학습자의 기억에 영향력을 미친다는 결과는 가상현실 에이전트 외국어 강사를 활용한 외국어 학습 효과의 유효성을 증명한 것으로, 가상현실 에이전트를 활용한 다양한 처치 결과가 학습자의 인지 및 정서적 반응에 긍정적 효과를 줄 수 있다는 중요한 이론적, 실증적 함의를 제공한다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

The present research has been conducted by the Research Grant of Kwangwoon University in 2023

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