Virtual Reality Transports Spanish Students to Argentina

Is there a better way to learn Spanish than being dropped off in the middle of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and left to figure it out? Thankfully, the Morgan Innovation Lab has provided a safe and realistic way to do exactly that. (Scroll to the bottom of the article to watch the class navigate their way through Buenos Aires.)

Spanish II students participated in an immersive virtual reality experience to practice giving directions and apply city vocabulary in a realistic context. Using the Virtual Reality (VR) headsets, the students worked in groups to navigate their way around the city using Spanish directions. This hands-on experience provided a near-real-life simulation and helped students demonstrate their understanding of and ability to follow directions in a real-world situation. 

Following the navigation exercise, students participated in a 360-degree video tour of Buenos Aires. They toured the city's streets and landmarks while Mr. Woodard explained the significance of each location in the target language. Students experienced El Obelisco, the 235-foot-tall monument that stands at the intersection of Avenida 9 de Julio and Avenida Corrientes, built in 1936 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the city's founding. The Obelisk has become one of Argentina's most recognizable symbols.

The tour also included La Casa Rosada (The Pink House), Argentina's presidential palace, located in Plaza de Mayo. Some theories say the building's distinctive pink color comes from mixing red and white paint, a representation of each parties colors and unity of the political parties. Others believe is was used practically to hold up against the humidity of the region.

Students virtually traveled down Avenida 9 de Julio, one of the widest avenues in the world at nearly 500 feet across with multiple lanes in each direction. Named after Argentina's Independence Day, July 9, 1816,  this massive boulevard showcases the grand scale of Buenos Aires' urban planning and gives students a unique experience navigating this special area.

With this technology, students can now understand spatial and directional vocabulary in an entirely new way, while gaining exposure to the culture of Spanish-speaking cities like Buenos Aires. The tour felt more like a local's experience than a typical virtual simulation, with Mr. Woodard leading the way. He and his family call Argentina home and had this to say about the experience. "It is very realistic," Mr. Woodard said, "There are taxis and buses moving around you just like you are there on the street." You can learn more about what led Mr. Woodard to call Argentina his home and his heartwarming story in which he met his wife while studying abroad in his faculty feature, linked here.

The students really enjoyed the immersive technology, and Mr. Woodard was excited to see the students engage in a real-world environment. Questions were posed to each group in a way that encouraged them to collaborate, and now each of them is well-prepared to spend their spring break south of the equator in Argentina. (See video below.)

The Spanish II class would like to extend a special thank you to Mrs. Dubinsky and Mrs. Dunn for their support in making this experience possible.