Can artificial intelligence (AI) reshape English practice for non-native learners? This study explores 15 Japanese university students’ engagement and perceptions of a dialogue-based AI speaking platform over a 15-week semester. Focusing on willingness to use AI, it examines impacts on foreign language anxiety (FLA), fluency, confidence, autonomous learning, and perceived limitations, addressing gaps in educational technology research. Student-participants, ranging from beginner to intermediate proficiency, interacted with the platform in 20-minute sessions, practicing real-world scenarios like casual one-to-one dialogues. The AI platform provided adaptive, nonjudgmental feedback, creating a low-pressure environment ideal for shy learners. A survey with 15 Likert-scale questions across five themes, supplemented by four open-ended questions, captured learner experiences compared to traditional methods. Findings suggest students valued the AI platform’s supportive feedback, reporting lower anxiety and increased engagement in speaking practice. They also perceived notable fluency and autonomy benefits. While some participants noted limitations using AI, like reduced spontaneity or inability to interpret gestures, these were seen as minor compared to the platform’s strengths. The AI platform complemented classroom instruction, fostering self-directed or autonomous learning. This presentation will share learner and teacher perspectives, inviting questions on AI’s role in language acquisition and language education. By highlighting how AI supports engagement and reduces anxiety, the study offers practical insights for educators and developers, suggesting AI platforms can create inclusive, learner-centered environments that align with trends in personalized learning and educational innovation.

Authors:
David Hammett, Sapporo Gakuin University, Japan

About the Presenter(s)
HAMMETT DAVID is a teacher of English of at the university level in Hokkaido, Japan. His academic research has been centered on online materials. Currently, he is researching A.I. tools and their potential roles in language learning.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Sunday Schedule

Bookmark