Immersive Learning of Languages with AI Avatars
Aug 29, 2024
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INTRODUCTION
The process of learning a foreign language is on the crest of profound change.
The traditonal classroom methods of learning languages have served us well, but now thanks to advances in technology, we now have wonderful innovative tools which are transforming language learning. The excitement is building. The potential is huge and it's going to happen with or without you!
In this blog I will be looking at the use case for AI Avatars and assessing the potential benefits to language learning.
MY JOURNEY AND DISCOVERING IMMERSIVE LEARNING
As a teacher whose career has spanned two decades, I have seen innovations in the delivery of education become mainstream. I've always been quick to adopt innovations that add to my 'Teachers Toolkit' but rarely have I ever felt excitement as I feel now!
A few year ago, faced with teaching French to a few challenging High School classes, I set about creating some more engaging experiences for the students and it was then that I offered them opportunities to experience Educational Minecraft as one of the activities. (eg building the Eiffel Tower, creating French cafes and towns)
This was a very positive experience for both myself and the students and really enhanced and enriched the learning experience. So much so that many students who previously had a very negative attitude to learning French, became very enthusiastic and motivated to learn. To my surprise these students now couldn't wait to come to my French class. Their mindset had changed and they told me it was due to the more creative activities and especially the incorporation of the Minecraft activities.
I guess that this was my first taste of using an early iteration of more immersive online education. So when more Immersive Educational resources emerged, I was ready to explore. What I discovered left me in no doubt that we are looking at the future of education.
For so long Educational systems have remained static and standardised, a one size fits all system, and even though there have been substantial technological advances in the world, the education systems just haven't been keeping up. Some schools have even blocked chat gpt and other AI apps which I still find baffling, as this is the technology that most businesses around the world are using, and that we are now using in our everyday life!
We now have a multitude of problems in schools, including a higher amount of disengaged students, rising behavioural problems in classes and burnt out Teachers whose health and well being is suffering to the extent of breaking point in many cases. I feel that one of the reasons is that many students are living in highly stimulated environments outside of school with advanced technology at heir fingertips and then come to school where the tech is quite limited eg powerpoint slides,videos and books and they just dont feel stimulated enough.
Change is definitely needed. I'm not saying tech is the answer to all problems and it won't replace what already exists and is working, but if integrated appropriately will actually help us unlock new dimensions in learning and give us the opportunity to transform education into an active, customised and engaging experience for our students
Immersive technology or virtual reality/augmented reality has been around for some twenty years or more. Adoption has been gradual. I became aware of this tech within the last two years. Little by little I began to see more of it emerging. Intrigue turned to excitment as I soon realised the potential for a revolution in education. The technology has matured over the last twenty years, and we are now better informed on how this technology can be utilised in a positive way to enhance our lives and how we learn.
SHOULD LANGUAGE TEACHERS OR TUTORS FEEL THREATENED BY THIS TECHNOLOGY?
Immersive learning is adding another dimension to the way that languages are taught however, it cannot be stressed enough, just how much the technology does not and can't replace a Teacher. Teachers will always be needed to teach, oversee and monitor the progress of students. I believe that the Teacher wil still be central to the learning process and human connection will be needed now more than ever to ensure the responsible, ethical and effective implementation of this powerful technology.
For those who have brought the right technology in, the transformation has been powerful.
According to a report by The Knowledge Academy:
49% of teachers admit tech has made them more efficient at planning and giving lessons – a third claim it makes marking easier
54% of teachers said tech allows them to plan more varied and exciting lessons
53% said technology makes the classroom more vibrant and fun.
Immersive technology is just another tool in our toolkit and a very powerful one which will enhance the resources and skills which already exist. Instead of diminishing teaching skills and student achievement, it has improved the overall experience and success.
The advent of the modern microchip calculator didn't make mathematicians obsolete. If anything the calculator made them more productive in ways that increased demand on their expertise so I feel these advancements are very similar.
In particular the fusion of AI with Immersive VR Technology in the form of Avatars will offer a much more personalised and engaging experience for students. I believe this is a true gamechanger. The time will soon come when we will witness this powerful technology being used more and more to enhance the teaching and learning of languages.
I have tested the technology and I can say that I am beyond excited about its capabilty as a learning tool for the teaching and learning of languages and will support Teachers and students so much. AI Avatars offer a whole host of advantages for students learning languages
IMMEDIATE REAL TIME AI AVATAR RESPONSE
The avatar is just like a study buddy for the student. The conversation is in real time. The responses to the Student are dynamic, instant and have a realism that is like speaking to a real person/ tutor. An opportunity for increased language practice and an overall improvement in learning.
IMMERSIVE ENVIRONMENT
Immersion in an environment without distraction which focuses the student still further and reasearch has proven this to be the case. The student adopts their very own avatar which interacts with the AI Avatar in scenarios in a vitual world, e.g. students can be transported to the boulangerie to order a baguette or order a coffee and croissant in a Parisien cafe. The student will feel a sense of realism and combined with a tailored environment which is free of normal distractions of the 'real world' will have an enhanced learning experience which is truly and actively engaging.
ANXIETY
Studies have shown that that learning a language with an Avatar alleviates anxiety. This stands to sense, as many of us know how anxiety, fear and self consciousness hindered us in the classroom causing us to retreat into ourselves into our own world of quiet and safety.
Students can interact with the Avatar in a remarkably comfortable and stress free way. Gone are the feelings of shyness, self consciousness and anxiety that I remember being so much a part of classroom learning when I was a student. The Avatar will always be pleasant patient and helpful and because of this, stress levels will be down and the fun, confidence and motivation level will rise up.
No fear, no judgement, no adrenaline and cortisol running through our blood vessels disrupting our thoughts and detracting from the learning experience. Immerse.com cites research that shows that 92% of students felt less anxious speaking to an Avatar.
ACCESSIBILITY
In Virtual learning environments, the activities remain so that students can return without the Teacher to redo activities for extra reinforcement and have more conversational practice which gives the opportunity to develop fluency quicker. eg Students can go visit the virtual cafe, shop or street scene as many times as they like and practice their conversational skills.
RESEARCH
It has been shown that such enviroments enable a level of engagement that is unseen in the traditional teaching realm, and there is now a growing body of evidence which shows this. A recent study comparing language learners in a traditional classroom with those using Avatars in VR learning environments showed the avatar users significantly outperformed their counterparts in vocabulary learning, grammar accuracy, and reading comprehension.
Nusrat Rizvi: Unleashing the Power of AI Avatars: ResearchGate June 2024 stated
"In conclusion, the potential of AI avatars in education is vast and transformative."
AI AVATARS HAVE PROGRESSED TO A LEVEL THAT RIVAL HUMANS
Adam Turaev writing in the A.I. Journal (Feburary 2024) cites Adobe Chief Strategy Officer Scott Belsky-
"the tone of voice is the “UI of the natural language,” and it’s a pretty unexplored spectrum of possibilities. Technology has advanced to a point where avatars can talk and vibe like the best and even most expensive human tutors. It’s as if they mastered kindness and personal touch to a tee".
Check out this cool explanation below, by ImmerseVR on how Avatars help you learn a new language faster.
CONCLUSION
Parents expect favourable outcomes for their children. The students do also. Many parents go to great lengths and expenditure to ensure that their children receive only the best in education and that includes language learning.
Learning a second language puts students at a huge advantage in life. There are many social and cultural benefits, not to mention economic benefits of learning a second language and I believe that all our students deserve the best possible education using all available tools to set them up for success.
This includes students who wouldn't normally be able to travel and do immersive study programs etc. High quality Language learning will become more inclusive and accessible to all thanks to this technology.
Therefore it follows that those Language Teachers who adopt educational innovation (which is having these transformational results) will have the edge over those who are slow to adapt. Those who fail to embrace change risk being left behind. I believe that adoption and integration of this groundbreaking technology is crucial to any Educator who is serious about helping all their language students reach their full potential in a more efficient and effective way.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/education/articles/10.3389/feduc.2024.1416307/full
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