Test-takers’ Performance and Perceptions in Total-Immersive Virtual Reality Paired Speaking Tests

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study investigated university students’ performance and perceptions of taking paired English speaking tests in fully immersive virtual reality. A total of 36 college students at an advanced level were recruited to participate in either face-to-face (N = 20) or fully immersive VR speaking tests (N = 16), designed to explore test-takers’ speaking abilities. The students were asked to perform two decision-making tasks and fill out a questionnaire asking about their preference for the test mode and perceived levels of presence after completing the tasks. The study revealed no statistically significant difference in the students’ speaking abilities between the two testing modes, suggesting that the VR paired speaking test format could potentially serve as an alternative to the face-to-face paired speaking test. In relation to the analysis of questionnaire items, the students demonstrated a high level of immersion in the virtual environments.
Despite their preference for the face-to-face testing mode, they reported that the VR test could potentially replace the face-to-face speaking test. The semi-structured interview data gathered from three participants further revealed that the students, however, reported some discomfort with the paired speaking test itself due to pairing up with the other person. Furthermore, this study presents the limitations of the study and suggests implications for speaking assessments and future studies.