Talking Head Animation as Pedagogical Agent in Language Learning: A Review on Instructional Strategy and Media

Multimedia, particularly animation, has made significant contributions in educational settings, as it makes the learning process easier and more effective. Series of empirical studies performed over the last decade indicate that animation can provide various instructional roles, including improving the learning of English as a second language (ESL). Apparently, many ESL learners had difficulty in pronouncing certain English words, and natural English communication starts with proper pronunciation. These pronunciation issues in turn could lead to difficulty in finding a job because good communication skills is a principal criterion set by most if not all employers. In recent years, animated talking head technology has been developed to address these learning difficulties, which has set the path for the emergence of Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL), which applies a pedagogical agent or a virtual tutor in the form of an animated talking head. However, this methodology has rarely been researched in mobile-based educational settings, specifically related to animated talking heads. From what has been previously observed, mobile learning has recently become more popular in aiding distance education. Thus, this paper critically reviews the literature related to the use of animation and technology in aiding language learning, specifically among non-native English Speakers.