The effects of 3D immersion on CSL students’ listening comprehension

The study aimed at enhancing Chinese as a second language (CSL) students’ listening comprehension by using authentic contexts in Second Life (SL). Twenty-seven CSL students from 4 countries participated in the 6-week study. A within-subject design was adopted to confirm the effects of 3D immersive experiences on CSL students’ listening comprehension. All the participants sequentially experienced the two kinds of CSL listening support used in this study, both the traditional approach and 3D virtual immersion. The results of listening performance tests, questionnaires, and interview data were collected and analyzed during the study. The analysis results show that CSL students’ listening comprehension benefited from 3D immersion. The participants also expressed their preference for taking CSL listening lessons in 3D immersive contexts.