Talki: A Mobile Application to Improve English Learning of High School Students in Peru utilizing Virtual Reality and Gamification

Authors

  • Joaquin San Martin Department of Engineering Faculty, Software Engineering Program, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, Lima, Peru
  • William's Romero Department of Engineering Faculty, Software Engineering Program, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, Lima, Peru
  • Jose Luis Castillo-Sequera Universidad de Alcalá
  • Lenis Wong Department of Engineering Faculty, Software Engineering Program, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, Lima, Peru
Volume: 14 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 17472-17481 | October 2024 | https://doi.org/10.48084/etasr.8223

Abstract

Despite the widespread necessity of students to learn English, Peruvian students face challenges that include a lack of motivation, overwhelmed academic expectations, and low socioeconomic status. Therefore, in this paper, a mobile application that employs virtual reality and gamification is proposed to improve English language learning among Peruvian high school students. This research consists of three stages: (1) review, (2) proposal, and (3) validation. In (1), an exhaustive review of teaching techniques, gamification strategies, and virtual reality models applied to English language learning is carried out. In (2), specific guidelines are selected for the implementation of teaching techniques, gamification, and type of virtual reality for the construction of the mobile application, using Google Cardboard virtual reality glasses. Finally, in (3) the validation of the mobile application is reported, in which 58 high school students participated. Data were collected on student performance before and after using the application. The results showed that students increased their performance in the English language by 22%. This percentage was measured by the average of the grades taken at the beginning and at the end of the experiment.

Keywords:

learning, virtual reality, gamification, education, mobile application, immersion, English

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Author Biography

Jose Luis Castillo-Sequera, Universidad de Alcalá

Received the degree in computing from the National University of San Marcos, Peru, the master’s degree in computer project management and the master’s degree in university teaching in Spain, and the Ph.D. degree in information systems, documentation, and knowledge from the University of Alcalá, Spain.
He is currently a Full Professor with the Department of Computer Science, University of Alcalá. He has multiple publications at the level of high-level indexed JCR journals and is the author of books and book chapters related to the field of artificial intelligence.
His research interests include information retrieval, knowledge extraction based on evolutionary learning and neural network, data mining and big data, documentation, learning, and teaching innovation with Web 2.0. He also leads projects of technological innovation oriented to the use of ICTs in university research groups. His research interests include business technologies and intelligent technologies for knowledge management with interdisciplinary technologies.

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How to Cite

[1]
San Martin, J., Romero, W., Castillo-Sequera, J.L. and Wong, L. 2024. Talki: A Mobile Application to Improve English Learning of High School Students in Peru utilizing Virtual Reality and Gamification. Engineering, Technology & Applied Science Research. 14, 5 (Oct. 2024), 17472–17481. DOI:https://doi.org/10.48084/etasr.8223.

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