FLEAT 8 conference advances AI and VR integration into language education
The eighth Foreign Language Education and Technology (FLEAT 8) Conference, held June 25-28, 2025, at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, offered an immersive and forward-thinking forum for language educators and technologists worldwide. Organised collaboratively by the International Association of Language Learning Technology (IALLT), the Japanese Association for Language Education and Technology (LET), and the University of Hawaiʻi’s Center for Language and Technology (CLT), the event attracted over 220 participants from 14 countries, including K–12 teachers and university faculty. Sponsors such as the National Foreign Language Resource Center (NFLRC), Avant Assessment, Immerse, and other industry leaders contributed to the conference's rich offerings.
The conference began with a full day of workshops designed to empower instructors to integrate technology effectively into language education. A standout session led by Dr. Alfonso Santiago of the University of Michigan demonstrated how educators can harness artificial intelligence, particularly ChatGPT, to create engaging language-learning games without any coding experience. This approach sparked creative enthusiasm among attendees as they brainstormed, designed prototypes, and beta-tested their interactive learning tools. Complementing this, Dr. Yuka Doui, an experienced Japanese high school ESL teacher, showcased game-based activities using platforms like Padlet, Kahoot, and a themed Super Mario PowerPoint game that enlivened course review sessions, demonstrating practical, playful methods to boost student engagement.
The conference’s plenary sessions offered profound insights into evolving language education paradigms. Carol Goss, Director of the Language and Intercultural Learning Center (LINC) at Valparaiso University, presented the Henderson Plenary entitled “Not Your (Grand-) Father’s Language Lab: Intercultural Reset.” Goss traced the transformation of language labs from isolated, audio-lingual learning hubs of the 1950s into vibrant, learner-centred community spaces that integrate diverse language acquisition methodologies and promote intercultural competence. Her leadership during the remodelling of her language centre between 2020 and 2022 exemplified innovation amid constraints, emphasising collaboration, feedback-driven adjustments, and outreach to sustain and extend language and intercultural learning programming on campus.
Keynote speaker Dr. Michele Anciaux Aoki expanded on the transformative potential of technology with her presentation on “Language Learning in the Age of AI.” She advocated for Facilitated Interdependent Language Learning (FILL), a model where learners independently set language goals within a supportive facilitator-led environment. This learner-directed approach fosters personalised pathways, intercultural competence, formative assessment, and community building, making language learning more accessible and adaptable in a multilingual context. Dr. Aoki’s approach aligns with broader trends toward autonomy and personalised education empowered by artificial intelligence.
Virtual Reality (VR) was a prominent topic, illustrating the conference’s commitment to cutting-edge technological applications. Researchers from the University of Cincinnati presented innovative lesson plans using 360° videos recorded in Spain, leveraging VR headsets to immerse Spanish learners in cultural experiences such as Dia de los Muertos and traditional Flamenco performances. At Old Dominion University, a mixed-methods study led by Betty Rose Facer and Denis Uebiyev revealed broadly positive student perceptions of the ImmerseMe VR platform, noting its engaging cultural content and grammar support features despite some technical challenges. Meanwhile, faculty from Ohio State University demonstrated the design and pedagogical underpinning of a VR escape room for Italian learners, highlighting its benefits for motivation, problem-solving, and peer interaction while addressing potential hurdles like cybersickness and budget constraints.
Throughout the conference, sessions on language centres underscored their evolving role as technology hubs and social justice agents. Discussions included management strategies for dynamic Language Resource Centers, design innovations, social media community-building, and student engagement initiatives such as mentorship projects that foster professional development and cultural pride among student staff.
The conference also honoured distinguished contributions with several awards recognising achievement and leadership in language learning technology, including the Ruth Trometer Lifetime Achievement Award and the Robert Henderson Memorial Award.
Social events underscored the conference’s spirit of ‘ʻOhana’ (family). The welcome reception featured traditional Hawaiian cuisine and cultural performances, setting a warm tone for collaboration. The closing dinner aboard a sunset cruise with fireworks and subsequent escape room challenges provided memorable opportunities for networking and relationship-building among attendees.
Looking ahead, the community anticipates regrouping in Madison, Wisconsin, in 2027 for the next FLEAT conference, under newly installed IALLT President Lauren Rosen’s leadership. This event not only showcased exciting advancements in language education technology but also reinforced the importance of intercultural exchange, learner-centred innovation, and community-building within the global language teaching profession.