Using a Conversational Agent for Promoting Collaborative Language Learning
Stergios D. Tegos, Stavros Demetriadis, Τhrasyvoulos Tsiatsos · 2012
Research in the field of Second Language Acquisition has repeatedly highlighted the importance of conversational interactions between students working together in small groups. Particularly, peer dialogue can play a vital role in intellectual development and language acquisition. Thus, we argue that the use of a conversational agent, designed to advance peer interaction and cognitive activity, would enhance learning outcomes related to language learning. In this work, we describe the design of a web-based collaborative system that utilizes a configurable conversational agent, which facilitates and triggers the learners' discussion. We also present an exploratory case study that was conducted in an English language school. Our analysis indicates a positive effect regarding the usability and user acceptance of the system.