The Implementation of Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Augmented Reality (AR) in Language Education 5.0: Enhancing Multicultural Communication Skills and Immersive Understanding of Sociolinguistic Contexts

Abstract

The emergence of Society 5.0 demands language education that transcends traditional linguistic competence by integrating advanced digital technologies to develop multicultural communication skills and deep sociolinguistic awareness. This qualitative study investigates the implementation of an integrated Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Augmented Reality (AR) platform in an English for Intercultural Communication course at an Indonesian university. The platform provided real-time linguistic feedback and superimposed culturally situated AR layers that simulated authentic multicultural scenarios, requiring learners to negotiate meaning pragmatically. Drawing upon sociocultural theory and experiential learning, the research employed a case study design involving 30 undergraduate participants. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, participant observations, and reflective journals over one semester. Thematic analysis revealed four major themes: (1) heightened sociolinguistic consciousness through embodied AR cues, (2) the shaping of pragmatic choices via immediate NLP feedback, (3) reduced intercultural communication apprehension through immersive simulation, and (4) challenges concerning cognitive load and technological familiarity. Findings demonstrate that the synergy of NLP and AR can create an immersive ecosystem in which linguistic form, sociocultural norms, and communicative function are acquired simultaneously. The study contributes a pedagogical model for Language Education 5.0, emphasizing the importance of context-rich, technology-mediated environments in fostering intercultural communicative competence. Implications for curriculum design, teacher facilitation, and equitable access are discussed.