Experiential Learning with Digital Technology: Virtual Reality and Russian Prefixed Verbs of Motion

Presenter Information

Kristin Bidoshi, Union CollegeFollow

Submission Type

20-minute Presentation

Abstract

This presentation outlines an innovative method for integrating virtual reality into the Russian language classroom. Specifically, we discuss the development of a prototype of an interactive immersive world to train Russian prefixed verbs of motion. Our program, “A Stroll through Brighton”, a virtual reality game set in Brighton Beach NY that trains students in prefixed verbs of motion, serves as a case study. The game, based on recent developments in the fields of virtual reality and game-based learning, allows users to virtually immerse themselves in and interact with real, not simulated, locations for educational purposes.

Start Date

5-24-2018 9:20 AM

Description

Uni- and multi- directional verbs of motion and their usage are notoriously difficult for students of Russian, especially as the verbs are normally introduced and practiced mostly in traditional textual form. Moreover, students generally only master these verbs after being exposed to them in context, over a long period of time, usually while in-country. This program gives our students increased opportunities for exposure to the verbs by integrating technology into the language classroom. Our program offers students practice in prefixed verbs of motion by immersing them in an interactive virtual reality environment so that they can experience the verbs first hand. In this simulated game, the student learns by doing; she actively applies course content to help her achieve an immediate goal that is based on a real-world scenario. The student’s assignment is to help her friend’s grandmother with her shopping. The student is asked to locate items on a shopping list. The first task is to follow the directions to navigate the streets of Brighton Beach to locate the bookstore (directions are given in the imperative mode using the prefixed verbs of motion). The student receives immediate direct feedback (if she goes in the wrong direction, she is alerted that her movement is incorrect). Once the student navigates to the bookstore, she enters the store and looks around to locate Vladimir Nabokov’s novel “Защита Лужина” [Luzhin Defense].

The presentation will include an interactive portion that models the communicative way I teach verbs of motion in the classroom; in order to better understand the difficulty of Russian verbs of motion, participants will “walk” to locations in the room (i.e. the store, the stadium, the library) while voicing their motion. Specifically, we will model the uni-directional verb to go by foot (idti’) against the multi-directional (round trip motion verb) to go by foot (khodit’). The presentation will also include a brief demonstration of the web-based pilot program and offer suggestions on how to create a professional development plan, understanding your hardware and software needs and mapping your storyboard. The concept for this program is readily transferable to other languages and could have broad application in foreign language pedagogy.