TagAlong RolePlay : a low-cost multi-user virtual reality language learning platform

Abstract

Smart-phone applications that help users learn languages are quickly taking over the language learning market due to their convenience and accessibility. It is estimated that the mobile share of the language-acquisition market should climb 73 percent to around 14.5 billion by 2019 (Reuters, 2015). However, none of the applications currently available are immersive or have multi-user features. Immersive learning and tandem learning has been shown to have many benefits. TagAlong RolePlay is a low cost multiuser VR platform that was created to incorporate this type of learning. Furthermore, TagAlong RolePlay has an authoring tool that allows teachers to create various virtual language-learning environments and tasks. This allows a teacher to create tasks specific to the student's needs. For example, a student trying to learn English to become a doctor in the US will need to learn the words pertaining to the medical world. The robust and flexible TagAlong RolePlay platform creates a more superior efficient and engaging learning experience.