Using an AI-driven Conversational Chatbot to Develop EFL Oral Communication Skills of First Year Secondary School Students and Reduce their Oral Communication Apprehension

The current study aimed to examine the use of an AI-driven conversational chatbot to develop EFL oral communication skills of first-year secondary school students and reduce their oral communication apprehension. The study adopted a quasi-experimental research design (one experimental group). The study group was thirty-three (n = 33) secondary-stage students. The study instruments were designed by the researcher, namely, an EFL oral communication skills checklist, a pre-post EEFL oral communication skills test, and a communication apprehension questionnaire. Data was statistically analyzed. Based on the study results, there is evidence that the use of the AI-driven conversational chatbot can develop EFL oral communication skills of first-year secondary school students and reduce their oral communication apprehension. The study recommends examining the use of advancements in AI-driven chatbots with EFL secondary school students, in particular, and EFL learners, in general.