Page 11 - May Newsletter

@SophiaMav started the chat by asking this question:

@Rach_Ribeiro said that we can use MAVR to enhance the experience within the language
learning environment. She provided an example:

“Let’s say a lesson theme is travelling and as a grammar focus the use of ‘there is , there are’
to describe places. Instead of just looking at photos, the students can actually experience
walking on the street of the cities mentioned.”

@teacherphili then mentioned that because it is up for debate, and he asked, “Are MAVR and
ELT really a match made in heaven?” @Rach_Ribeiro replied, when MAVR is timely used and
not overused, then MAVR and ELT are a match made in heaven. @ParisaMehran said that yes,
if the devices are affordable and smaller. @Paul_Driver stated that there are lots of snippets
about the technology; however, little said about theory or pedagogical implications.
@ChrisRHastings added that he thinks we are at the stage where we all understand the
obvious potential, but optimal pedagogies and applications are less clear. He also said that
he thinks MAVR is great at tapping into that visual side of language learning and making
input delivered through the medium very compelling.

@Rach_Ribeiro remarked that ELT teachers in general know that there is a potential but it is
(unfortunately) mostly related to entertainment the way I see it, teachers who have been
integrating some sort of VR and AR should share their real case studies. Also, depending on
the day and on how tired students are it does make a difference and changes the vibe of the
class. She also emphasized that VR or AR it should be used for no longer than 5 minutes,
because the aim is that this VR experience is a start to conversational activities, regardless of
the level. Moreover, there is the concern of not getting students dizzy because people react
differently to being in a VR environment.

@MehrasaAlizadeh said that entertainment or better say “edutainment” is a merit rather than
a drawback especially in low-motivation contexts like Japan. @teacherphili then mentioned
that so MAVR is used in Japan because it is more motivational – does that applying to
learning a language, too? @MehrasaAlizadeh replied, in my experience, learners get more

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