The effects of peer-to-peer versus AI-partnered roleplays on EFL learners' intercultural pragmatic performance and willingness to communicate

This quasi-experimental study investigated the comparative efficacy of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Voice Assistants versus traditional peer-partnered role-plays in developing Intercultural Pragmatic Competence (IPC) and modulating situational Willingness to Communicate (State-WTC). Utilizing a pretest-posttest non-equivalent groups design, 118 undergraduate Iraqi EFL learners participated in a six-week task-based intervention. Data collected via an oral discourse completion task and weekly State-WTC scales were analyzed using ANCOVA and independent samples t-tests in SPSS. The findings revealed that the GenAI group achieved significantly higher adjusted posttest pragmatic scores and maintained structurally superior communication readiness throughout the intervention () due to reduced affective anxiety. This study highlights the value of incorporating conversational AI as an effective tool for automated linguistic scaffolding.