Project Overview
This project features a lesson plan titled "Talking About Feelings While Waiting for a Ride". The primary objective is to help Japanese middle school students practice speaking English by communicating with AI avatars in a low-pressure, immersive virtual environment.
Problem Statement & Context
In Japan, English classes focus mainly on grammar and reading, which deprives students of enough opportunities to speak English. This tendency causes students to care too much about grammatical accuracy.
Key Challenge
As a result of limited speaking practice and a fear of making grammatical errors, many Japanese students develop a strong hesitancy and reluctance to speak English.
Approach & Methodology
To remove this hesitancy, the lesson is designed around a familiar and exciting situation—waiting for an amusement park ride—allowing students to practice English while feeling confident. The lesson consists of three main phases:
Learn It (Preparation)
Students learn basic conversation moves, vocabulary, and phrases for real-life settings, giving them a clear image of what to try next.
Apply It (XR Experience)
Students use Wonda XR to enter a 360-degree amusement park scene. They have conversations with a 3D AI avatar that acts as a supportive friend, using carefully engineered prompts to ensure the AI speaks slowly and kindly.
Share It (Reflection)
Students reflect on the conversation using a mission checklist to track the phrases they used and share them with peers.