This study explores undergraduate students’ evaluations of three Virtual Reality (VR) applications—Wander, Bodyswaps, and VirtualSpeech—integrated into an entry-level intercultural communication course at a university in the Midwestern United States. The experiment aimed to enhance students’ cultural awareness, empathy, and public speaking skills aligned with the course’s learning outcomes through immersive learning experiences. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 48 participants via survey, which gathered participants’ background information and their perceptions of effectiveness, engagement and overall feedback after experimenting with the VR applications. Findings indicate that while participants generally perceived these three VR apps as effective learning tools, their impact varied by application type and skill areas. Wander increased awareness of cultural diversity but was limited in terms of interactive communication skill development. Bodyswaps was effective for fostering perspective-taking skill, and VirtualSpeech supported the development of public speaking skill, though some participants raised concerns about the quality of AI-generated feedback such as reliability and personalization in both applications. Despite a few reports of minor physical discomfort using VR headsets, students overall found the three VR applications engaging and recommended their continued use in communication classes. Finally, participants highlighted the need for improved scenario design, enhanced AI feedback, and stronger connections between conceptual understanding and actionable intercultural communication skills to maximize learning outcomes in VR environments.
- Open Access
- Article
Undergraduate Students’ Perspectives of Virtual Reality Applications in an Intercultural Communication Course: An Exploratory Study
Author Information
Received: 10 Oct 2025 | Revised: 05 Dec 2025 | Accepted: 10 Dec 2025 | Published: 15 Jan 2026
Abstract
Keywords
virtual reality | intercultural communication | cultural awareness | perspective-taking | public speaking | student engagement | AI-driven feedback | immersive learning | VR effectiveness
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