USING AI-POWERED CHATBOTS TO ENHANCE SPEAKING SKILLS IN ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE CLASSROOMS
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Keywords: AI chatbot, speaking fluency, EFL classroom, pronunciation feedback, adaptive conversation, learner autonomy, oral competence##article.abstract##
Abstract: The challenge of improving speaking skills in English as a Foreign
Language (EFL) classrooms is long-standing, especially in contexts with limited
teacher time and peer interaction. This research explores the integration of AI-driven
chatbots designed specifically for conversational practice and its impact on learners’
fluency, pronunciation, and confidence. Over a fourteen-week intervention, a cohort of
eighty intermediate-level learners engaged in structured weekly sessions with chatbots
capable of adapting to individual accuracy and style. Performance data, learner
reflections, and instructor observations were collected to evaluate change. The findings
reveal substantial improvements in learner willingness to communicate, speaking
fluency, and pronunciation accuracy, coupled with enhanced confidence and
motivation. However, challenges surface around the chatbot’s contextual awareness,
occasional misunderstanding of learner input, and learners’ preference for human
feedback in nuanced conversations. The study concludes with design recommendations
to optimize chatbot roles in EFL speaking development and suggests best practices for
classroom implementation.
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