A few years back, we partnered with a school that used Floreo to help teach English to students who were non-native speakers. Imagine being a child placed in an environment where everyone is talking, interacting, and following social norms that feel totally unfamiliiar. You don't understand the conventions or the verbal and non-verbal cues. It would be easy to feel intimidated, anxious, and isolated. Any kid feeling this way is not in an ideal state for learning. Now, imagine a friendly teacher invites you to a safe space where you can put on a virtual reality headset. Here you can learn new words, learn the patterns and expectations of the school, and practice conversing with other kids and adults with no time pressure and no fear of rejection from your communication partner.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 20 percent of the public school students in the US in 2021 lived in households where more than one language was spoken. About half of those students were in need of support to learn English. TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) is a teaching approach that uses gestures, demonstration, visuals, repetition, and interactive activities, all of which are available within the Floreo lessons.

In Floreo, students can go into Classroom Preview and learn names for furniture and common items in their classrooms. They can contrast it with Find a Seat and Get Ready for Class, where people are included to describe people in the classroom, their moods, and understand what should happen when the teacher starts class. They can go into the cafeteria and Join a Conversation or observe and practice introductions in Introduce Peers to Each Other. Adolescent students can try Teen Talk: Join a Conversation to listen for the topic and make an on-topic comment. They can practice asking questions in Teen Talk: Social Squares and Teen Talk: Social Squares 2.

The social expectations placed on students in schools are incredibly high. We expect them to understand the rules, routines, and social conventions. We expect them to be able to navigate relationships with other students as well as with adults. When a student does not fully understand the language being used around them, meeting that expectation can be extremely difficult.

Language is foundational to learning. A solid understanding of the language in which students are taught is essential for concept development and critical thinking. It is needed for every subject taught in school. Kids who learn English later in life are at greater risk for academic difficulties in reading, writing, math, and science, not because they cannot understand, but because they don't have full access to their learning environment. This is why TESOL support is so critical for the success of many students.

Floreo's versatile environments can support this learning. It can efficiently take students virtually from the school to the bus stop, from the grocery store to the park, from the pool to the movie theater. By enabling immersive practice across a variety of settings, Floreo creates meaningful opportunities for Learners with differing needs to build confidence, independence, and essential life skills.