Supporting Speaking Practice by Social Network-Based Interaction in Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Assisted Language Learning

Bin Zou (), Xin Guan, Yinghua Shao and Peng Chen
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Bin Zou: Department of Applied Linguistics, Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
Xin Guan: Department of Applied Linguistics, Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
Yinghua Shao: Department of Applied Linguistics, Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
Peng Chen: Department of Applied Linguistics, Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-19

Abstract: In recent decades, the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology has led to the increasing use of AI speaking apps in foreign language learning. This research investigates the impact of social network-based interaction on students’ English speaking practice with the assistance of AI speaking apps in China. During the summer vacation, 70 students from different Chinese universities and majors were recruited for the experiment. They were required to practice speaking skills with AI apps for five weeks and were divided into two groups. Participants in the experimental group were encouraged to engage in various interactive activities when practicing speaking with AI apps, while those in the control group were asked to use AI speaking apps without interaction. Data were collected through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews as well as pre-and post-tests. The results indicated that students generally held positive attitudes towards interactive activities when using AI apps to practice their spoken English. The finding also showed that social network-based interaction can effectively improve learners’ speaking skills in the AI context. This study contributes to the research on the implementation and promotion of AI speaking apps with social networking and extends the previous studies on network-based interaction to the AI-assisted learning environment. An investigation of interactions based on Chinese social network-based platforms such as WeChat can be further applied to other social networking platforms such as Facebook or WhatsApp in different cultural contexts for AI-assisted speaking practice.

Keywords: English as a foreign language (EFL); speaking; artificial intelligence (AI); speech evaluation system; interaction; mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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