Virtual reality based marine engineering English learning environment simulation research

Marine engineering English teaching and learning circumstances in Chinese universities is still quite confined with textbooks and teacher dominant classes, lacking of diversified teaching methods can stimulate learners´ passions and interests. The lack of relevant multi-modal teaching methods and information visualization learning tools make it hard for learners to learn marine engineering English. Therefore, we constructed and optimized three dimensional marine engine models based on virtual reality technology, applied force feedback technology to realize the virtual operations on marine engine equipment, and eventually designed and developed a marine engine simulation system (MESS) for marine engineering English teaching and examinations. This system supports three dimensioned interactions and gesture interactions, bringing learners into simulated marine engineering English learning environment with immersed senses. This study aims at augmenting learners´ senses of entertainment and immerse, reducing their cognitive loads during marine English learning process, and improving the teaching quality of marine engineering English in Chinese maritime universities. Pilot study results show that students prefer learning marine engineering English under the help of MESS to traditional marine English classes.