A Review of 3D Virtual Environments for Language Learning: New Teaching Practice and Research Trend

Abstract

Three dimensional virtual environments (3DVEs) have been noted as effective learning space for promoting learners’ language acquisition and academic performance. This paper reviewed a total of 33 empirical studies published in the Language Learning & Technology, ReCALL, Computer-assisted Language Learning, System, CALICO Journal and Computers & Education from 2010 to 2017. At first, the current study explored the yearly publication trend of the journals and the research productivity of different countries. Then, based on systematic content analyses, the present paper shows that a majority of the studies employed the mixed research method and only a few articles adopted pure quantitative or qualitative method. The potential affordances of the 3DVEs include enhancing language learners’ overall language proficiency, language performance or target language output as well as non-linguistic knowledge and skills. Drawing upon the synthesized research findings, we claim that the 3DVE has become a burgeoning area of research with great potential for innovating language education. Pedagogical implications were summarized and suggestions for future pedagogical innovations were also discussed at the end.