Improvement of Japanese adults' English speaking skills via experiences speaking to a robot

• Published in: Journal of computer assisted learning Vol. 35; no. 2; pp. 228 - 245
• Main Authors: Iio, Takamasa, Maeda, Ryota, Ogawa, Kohei, Yoshikawa, Yuichiro, Ishiguro, Hiroshi, Suzuki, Kaori, Aoki, Tomohiro, Maesaki, Miharu, Hama, Mika
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Wiley-Blackwell 01.04.2019; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Accuracy; Achievement Gains; Adults; Asians; CAI; Child language; College Students; Colleges & universities; Computer Assisted Instruction; English; English (Second Language); English as a second language; Evidence; Females; Fluency; Foreign Countries; Instructional Effectiveness; Instructional Materials; Japanese language; Language Fluency; language learning; Language proficiency; Language Tests; Learning; Learning Motivation; Motivation; Native language acquisition; Oral Language; Pretests Posttests; Pronunciation; Public speaking; Robotics; Robots; robot‐assisted learning; second language; Second Language Instruction; Second Language Learning; Skills; Speaking; speaking skills; Speech Skills; Student Motivation; Teaching Methods; tutoring robot; Undergraduate Students; Japan
• ISSN: 0266-4909; 1365-2729
• DOI: 10.1111/jcal.12325

This paper reports how robot‐assisted language learning (RALL) impacts Japanese adults' English speaking skills. With existing research on RALL focusing on children, there is little evidence indicating RALL's effects on adults. We developed a RALL system comprising a robot, a tablet, and designed learning materials for speaking practice. To explore the effects of this system on the speaking skills of adults, we conducted a pretest and posttest designed pilot experiment. The participants in this study were nine female Japanese university students. The participants used the system for speaking practice for a total of 30 min per day for 7 days. The results of comparing the pretests with the posttests demonstrated that the adults' English speaking skills were enhanced; in particular, their speaking accuracy, fluency, and pronunciation improved greatly. This study contributes to providing clear evidence of the effects of RALL on Japanese adults' English speaking skills. Lay Description What is currently known about the subject matter: Japanese peoples' English skills, especially speaking skills, have not improved enough in recent years. Robot‐assisted language learning (RALL) is considered to be one of the solutions to these problems. Researchers have shown that RALL have positive effects on children's language learning motivation and achievements. But there are no studies that demonstrate whether adults' speaking skills improved after RALL. What their paper adds to this: We developed a RALL system, in which a robot acts as an interlocutor in conversation, for speaking practice. We conducted an experiment where the participants who are Japanese undergraduates used the system for a total of 30 min per day for 7 days. The results of comparing the pretests with the posttests demonstrated that the adults' English speaking skills were enhanced; in particular, their speaking accuracy, fluency, and pronunciation. The implications of study findings for practitioners: This study provided clear evidence for RALL's effects on adults' English speaking skills. In particular, Japanese undergraduates improved their speaking accuracy, fluency, and pronunciation greatly. The findings will encourage adults who are not good at speaking English despite many years of English education in school. The findings demonstrated the availability of RALL on enhancing English speaking skills.