Bridging the Anxiety Gap: Integrating AI Chatbots and YouTube Modeling to Enhance EFL Students’ Speaking Proficiency
Keywords:
Artificial Intelligence, EFL learners, speaking skills, pronunciation, language learning technology.Abstract
The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has recently become more common in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning context, especially in developing speaking skills. Many EFL learners in the English department of the Faculty of Languages struggle with speaking because of limited practice opportunities, fear of making mistakes, and lack of immediate feedback. AI-based tools such as chatbots, speech recognition systems, and pronunciation applications are often introduced as possible solutions to these problems This study investigates the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots and multimodal digital tools (YouTube) on the oral proficiency of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students at the Faculty of Languages. This study examines whether digital rehearsal reduces the "Affective Filter" before high-stakes interpersonal interactions, based on the concept of the "Safety Net." Results from a 14-day trial with 60 participants demonstrate that the incorporation of YouTube models alongside AI-generated content led to a 32% improvement in fluency and a 42% reduction in foreign language speaking anxiety.
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