Using Technology in Language Assessment: Focusing on the Potential and Feasibility of Virtual Reality-based Language Tests

The integration of various technologies into language testing has been a consistent effort to enhance the authenticity and efficiency of language testing. Despite high expectations, the reality is that few technologies, with the exception of automatic scoring, have become staples in language testing. This has resulted in little change in listening and writing tests, while speaking and writing tests face issues of construct underrepresentation due to automatic scoring. This paper examines why various technologies have not become new paradigms in language testing, analyzing the dynamics from both solutionfirst and problem-first approach perspectives. It then explores the potential and feasibility of virtual reality-based language tests, which hold promise for more accurately assessing test-takers’ language abilities by enabling communication in spaces that simulate real-life language use situations. Lastly, to avoid the pitfalls encountered by other technologies that failed to become main paradigms, the paper discusses directions for virtual reality technology-based language testing. This paper seeks to provide valuable insights for language testers and testing organizations aiming to incorporate emerging technologies into language assessment.