Overcoming pre-service foreign language teaching anxiety with the help of virtual reality software : A contribution of the Ovation VR project

Details

Supervisors

Suner Munoz, Ferran

Faculty

Faculté de philosophie, arts et lettres

Degree label

Master [120] en langues et lettres modernes, orientation germaniques, à finalité didactique

Abstract

Non-native pre-service teachers of foreign languages face additional anxiety compared with other teachers, namely that of teaching in a language other than their mother tongue. This has given rise to the concept of Foreign Language Teaching Anxiety (FLTA). Unlike Foreign Language Anxiety (FLA), FLTA seems to have been less studied. Moreover, despite the negative effects of this phenomenon on teachers and students, few solutions and recommendations have been suggested to limit its consequences. This master thesis supports the hypothesis that virtual reality software can be a tool to help non-native pre-service teachers to reduce their Foreign Language Teaching Anxiety. In order to test this hypothesis, a study involving three pre-service language teachers has been carried out. The aim of the study was to find out whether the anxiety levels of the three participants decreased over the course of mini teaching sessions using virtual reality software called Ovation VR. Although the limitations of this study must be taken into account, the analyses showed that using virtual reality software would make future teachers more aware of their strengths while working on their weaknesses, enabling them to be better prepared and less anxious. In conclusion, it seems that VR software could be used as a means of bridging the gap between theoretical courses and internships.