From Dynamic Vocabulary to Virtual Interaction: Development of a Foreign Language Learning Model in Tourism Using Corpora, Artificial Intelligence, and Extended Reality 

PROJECT TYPE:

• Institutional Research Project

PROJECT DURATION:

• October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2029

PROJECT LEADER AND TEAM MEMBERS:

I Research Team at the Juraj Dobrila University of Pula – Faculty of Humanities, Department of Asian Studies (Specialists in Japanese Studies)

• Prof. Irena Srdanović, PhD, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Asian Studies (project leader)
• Assist. Prof. Dragana Špica, PhD, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Asian Studies
• Stefani Silli, MA in Japanese Studies, Lecturer / Doctoral student, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Asian Studies (PhD student at the University of Ljubljana)
• Saeko Yamauchi, MA in Education, Lecturer in foreign language, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Asian Studies
• Matea Radaković, MA in Japanese Studies, assistant / doctoral student, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Asian Studies (PhD student at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana)

II Research Team at the Juraj Dobrila University of Pula – Faculty of Informatics

• Assist. Prof. Mieta Bobanović Dasko, PhD, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Faculty of Informatics
• Alma Smajić, mag. inf., Assistant, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Faculty of Informatics
• Ratomir Karlović, mag. inf., Assistant/Research Associate, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Faculty of Informatics

III Research Team at Other Universities in Croatia – University of Rijeka

• Assist. Prof. Benedikt Perak, PhD, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Cultural Studies

IV Research Team at Universities Outside of Croatia

• Prof. Jae-Ho Lee, Waseda University, Graduate School of Japanese Applied Linguistics
• Assoc. Prof. Yuzhe Li, University of Macau, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Department of Japanese
• Assoc. Prof. Masako Hayashi, Tohoku University, Institute for Excellence in Higher Education
• Prof. Koji Kanda, Ritsumeikan University, Regional Studies Program, Institute of Humanities
• Assoc. Prof. Hideaki Ito, Institute of Human and Social Sciences, University of Tsukuba

V Team of Young Researchers – Graduates, Master's, and Doctoral Students

• Anela Ilijaš, M.A. / PhD candidate (Korea)
• Dora Bračun, M.A. in Japanese Studies, Assistant Lecturer, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Asian Studies / Design and Audiovisual Communication
• Sara Dangubić, M.A. in Japanese Studies, Assistant Lecturer, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Asian Studies
• Marko Jan Jukić, M.A. in Japanese Studies, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Asian Studies
• Mia Rovis, B.Sc. in Informatics, Research Associate on the Project / Master's Student in Informatics, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Faculty of Informatics
• Laura Kristofić and Martina Škvorc, Master's Students in Japanese Studies, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Asian Studies

SHORT PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

The project focuses on developing an innovative model for foreign language learning in the context of tourism, combining approaches from corpus linguistics, artificial intelligence (AI), and virtual technologies (XR). Based on authentic audio and video recordings of tour guides and interpreters speaking Japanese at various tourist locations across Croatia, automatic speech transcription will be carried out using advanced AI tools. From the prepared materials, parallel automatically annotated Japanese language corpora—paired with Croatian and English—will be compiled and lexically processed. These corpora will serve as the foundation for extracting domain-specific vocabulary and contextual content for language learning. Using AI technologies based on large language models (LLMs), the project will develop interactive exercises that enable contextual acquisition of vocabulary through dynamically generated tasks, simulation-based exercises for language learning in virtual tourism scenarios, and practical language applications, including dialogues and guide role-playing in augmented reality. The project aims to create new linguistic resources and develop dynamic methods for learning specialized vocabulary, integrated into broader cultural and tourism contexts, designed for gradual learning and practical language use in both real and virtual environments.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The goal of the project is to explore the potential of corpus linguistics, artificial intelligence (AI), and virtual technologies (XR) in developing an innovative model for foreign language learning, with a particular focus on enhancing the language competencies required for professional Japanese tour guides.The emphasis is on dynamic methods of acquiring tourism-specific vocabulary, adapted to different proficiency levels and progressive learning through an interactive, contextual, and cultural-tourism-based approach.The project seeks to develop new linguistic resources—including specialized corpora, a lexicon, AI-generated exercises, and virtual guided tour scenarios through selected tourist sites in Croatia. activities, for example through the preparation of final theses and participation in experimental work, thereby encouraging the development of young researchers and strengthening the connection between education and science.

PROJECT HOLDER: Juraj Dobrila University of Pula