~Premiered at EDIX Tokyo / Immersive English Event for Kindergartens and Nursery Schools to be Completed Inside the Schools ~ (in Japanese only)
- The following is content from the press release -
(Headquarters: Kita-ku, Osaka; President: Masahiro Hanafusa) will begin selling ECC Eigo VR Taiken, a spatial VR program that provides a special English experience inside preschools, in April 2025 as an initiative to further expand English learning opportunities at kindergartens and nursery schools.
This service is attracting attention as a new approach to English education that allows children to experience English "as if they were there" through an immersive spatial experience that can be safely conducted in the park without the use of VR goggles. By combining the spatial VR "uralaa" (developed and marketed by Forest Digital Co., Ltd.) with ECC's educational know-how, it is now possible to provide a safe and enjoyable English experience in the park with the excitement of an adventure. Children will naturally learn English while having fun in a space that recreates real-life scenery and situations.
Key Points of the Case
- No goggles required! Immersive English Experience" that even preschoolers can enjoy!
- Explore in English with an ECC instructor! Programs to participate in using English
- Completed within the preschool! No equipment or large space is required, and "experience gaps" (environmental differences among preschoolers) are eliminated in the childcare room.
Outline of "ECC English VR Taiken
Immersive x English x Early childhood education
ECC's new program, "ECC English VR Taiken," is an unprecedented English activity for young children that allows them to learn English hands-on in an "immersive space" (spatial VR) that engages children. The virtual space is designed around themes that are likely to interest children, such as "meeting animals" and "riding on a vehicle," and the interactive structure allows children to naturally interact with ECC instructors in English. This is not a one-way "listen-and-play" style, but a system that allows children to experience English as "meaningful sounds" through interaction in the virtual space.
We offer a new type of English experience that combines fun and learning.
Name】ECC English VR Taiken
Summary] An event to create an immersive space in the park and have adventures in English, such as "encountering animals" and "riding rides".
Target] Kindergartens, nursery schools, and certified childcare centers *For children 2 years old and up
Format] 1-2 times a year, spot implementation type
Time] Approx. 15 minutes per session
Features】No need for VR goggles (headset), safety-conscious, interactive design that allows children to engage spontaneously
Social significance of bridging the "experience gap
One of the issues facing kindergartens and preschools in the field of education is the growing concern about the "experience gap" caused by differences in the environment of children. The "ECC English VR Taiken" is designed to provide all children with equally memorable experiences, and is expected to be utilized as a new approach to correcting the disparity of opportunities in the field of education.
Education x Spatial VR
Until now, the introduction of VR in the field of early childhood education has not progressed due to technical and educational challenges. This program has realized an immersive English experience that even young children can enjoy safely, thanks to spatial VR without VR goggles (headsets), safe design, and ECC's English education know-how.
Comments from both companies
Yuichi Shirakawa, Director and General Manager, Corporate Liaison Division, ECC Co.
In collaboration with Forest Digital, we have realized an unprecedented dream-like experience where children can explore an immersive space in English while in the nursery. We are looking forward to seeing the children grow up to be "little global citizens" through the "ECC Eigo VR Taiken," as they are excited to experience English.
Yoichi Miyazaki, Director and COO, Forest Digital, Inc.
In the verification test conducted with ECC, it was very impressive to see children immersed in the spatial VR world, concentrating and enjoying themselves from start to finish, and having natural conversations with their teachers. uralaa is a new spatial VR experience service that provides a variety of video content in an on-site format, and encourages people to change their behavior by bringing excitement and awareness through immersive experiences. URARA is a new spatial VR experience service that encourages people to change their behavior by providing a variety of video content in an on-site format and bringing excitement and awareness through immersive experiences. We hope that this experience of being enveloped by images will provide an opportunity for children to experience diverse worlds, nurture their intellectual curiosity, enjoy learning, and grow.
Information about exhibiting at EDIX (Education Exhibition Tokyo 2025)
ECC will open a VR experience booth at EDIX (Education Exhibition Tokyo 2025) to be held at Tokyo Big Sight from April 23 (Wed.) to 25 (Fri.), 2025, where you can experience "ECC English VR Taiken" for yourself, This immersive English experience is attracting attention as a new approach to English education. Please come and experience it for yourself.
ECC Early Childhood Education Promotion Department
https://www.biz.ecc.co.jp/youji
English education to open up the future of preschoolers--Total support service by ECC Early Childhood Education Promotion Department
ECC's Early Childhood Education Promotion Department is a specialized organization that provides a wide variety of English education and other programs for kindergartens, nursery schools, school children, municipalities, and other corporations throughout Japan. In addition to English, the division offers a wide range of services to meet the learning needs of preschools, including dance, exercise (running), and English programming. By leveraging its expertise in early childhood education, the company meets the diversifying expectations of parents while expanding learning opportunities for preschool children and helping to enhance the appeal of its preschools.
As a specialist in language education, we provide total support for English-language activities in childcare settings, from planning and management to dispatch of instructors. Currently, we offer our services at 12 locations nationwide in Sapporo, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya (1st and 2nd), Osaka (northern, central, and southern regions), Kobe, and Fukuoka, and we have the No. 1* track record in the number of facilities introducing English education programs for kindergartens and daycare centers.
*Based on the number of facilities offering English-language education programs for kindergartens and child-care centers at the five major providers in FY2023.
ECC Corporation
Since its establishment in 1962, ECC has been engaged in a variety of educational activities for over 60 years. ECC has been producing solid results by introducing unique curricula and teaching materials to realize the goals of students from infants to senior citizens. Through language education, ECC's mission is to nurture individuals who possess the qualities of "true global citizens" of the times.
forestdigital, inc.
A digital well-being company "using digital technology to share the value of forests and nature" established in November 2019 in Urahoro, Tokachi, Hokkaido, Japan. In January 2022, the world's first spatial VR platform "uralaa" will be released to the public, and partnerships with over 20 companies have been formed. In January 2022, the world's first spatial VR platform "uralaa" will be released to the public, and partnerships will be formed with over 20 companies.
Company name: forestdigital, inc.
Representative Director & CEO: Yuji Tsujiki
Business activities: Development and sales of spatial VR "uralaa", operation of Urara Park
