INTEGRATING AI-BASED VIRTUAL CONVERSATION PARTNERS IN ENHANCING SPEAKING SKILLS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES: INSIGHTS FROM UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
Mohamad Ahmad Saleem Khasawneh, Mohamad Ahmad Saleem Khasawneh · Journal of Southwest Jiaotong University · 2023
Speaking skills in a foreign language has been the benchmark for rating proficiency and level of development in the foreign language. As such, any attempt to critically evaluate tools that can enhance the speaking skills of foreign language learners usually attracts considerable attention. This study explored how AI-powered virtual conversation partners (VCPs) can help foreign language undergraduates improve their speaking ability. A total of 597 undergraduates in the penultimate and final years at various universities. The study community is mainly university undergraduates in foreign language education. A questionnaire was used to collect data from the participants, and analysis was conducted using relevant statistical tools. The analysis indicates that a greater percentage of the study population (82%) uses Linguino as the main virtual conversation partner for enhancing their foreign language speaking ability. The data further indicated that the most ineffective tools were Speaking AI (58.96%) and Poliglo Pa (51.09%). The results also indicated that the students have a positive attitude toward the use of these VCPs, and they perceive these tools as important in enhancing their speaking skills in the foreign language because the tools are easy and user-friendly. Thus, from the learners’ perspective, these VCP tools are very effective in enhancing their foreign language speaking skills. There is also an increase in the number of foreign language learners who use VCPs to improve their foreign language speaking skills. Further studies are recommended to offer insights into how these VCPs can be integrated into foreign language education. Keywords: Speaking Skills, Artificial Intelligence, Foreign Language, Virtual Conversation Partners DOI： https://doi.org/10.35741/issn.0258-2724.58.5.43