The Effectiveness of AI-Assisted Language Learning : Possibilities of Facilitating the Intelligibility of Korean-Accented English

This study investigated an artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted mobile application's effects on both motivation and development in Korean-speaking English learners (KSLs).We addressed three research questions: whether implementing AI apps, such as Google Assistant in L2 pronunciation training (1) enhances L2 listening proficiency, (2) increases L2 learning motivation, and (3) enhances extracting learnable phonological features.Three intact classes of KSLs (N = 74) were assigned to three groups: control (N = 25); a form-focused group that received a four-week explanation of Korean-accented English (KoE) (N = 25); and an AI app treatment group that received four weeks of mobile application pronunciation training in addition to the KoE explanation (N = 24).We conducted a quasi-experimental design with pre-, post-, and delayed post-listening tests on speech perception.In addition, we administered two questionnaires adopted from the Attitude and Motivation Test Battery (Gardner, 1985) ten weeks apart using a pre-and post-test design.Our results indicated that the mobile-assisted pronunciation practice improved L2 listening proficiency (linguistic level) and motivational level (affective domain).The findings confirmed that the ability to distinguish between consonant related features is readily learnable, suggesting that pronunciation practice using AI apps should be encouraged in L2 teaching and learning.Z , . (AI) (KSL) . 74 (25); 4 (KoE) (25); 4 KoE AI (24) . , , , 10 (Gardner, 1985) . , AI L2 ( ) ( ) ., . L2 AI .