Innovation in Language Learning

Speaking skills in a foreign language have long been the touchstone for evaluating the productive skills learners possess and the level of their fluency in English as a second language. Therefore, any endeavor to critically assess technologies that can improve the speaking skills of foreign language learners typically grabs considerable scholarly attention. This study explored how AI-powered virtual conversation robots can help improve English learners speaking skills. Thus, in this study the sample population is mainly university English learners, A total of 79 undergraduates were drawn from a southern Algerian university. A questionnaire was used as a method to collect data from the participants, and analysis was conducted using relevant statistical tools. According to the findings, a higher percentage of the research implies that chatbots are the student’s primary virtual conversation partner to improve their foreign language speaking abilities. The analysis also revealed that Speaking AI and Duolingo were the most ineffective technologies. The findings also revealed that students have a positive attitude toward the use of these artificial intelligence-powered virtual conversations, and they perceive these tools as vital in improving their speaking skills in a foreign language because they are simple and very friendly, reducing the learner's anxiety when speaking in English with a higher level of privacy. Thus, from the learners' perspective, these advanced tools are quite helpful in enhancing their foreign language oral abilities. There is also an increase in the number of foreign language learners who employ chatbots to improve their foreign language speaking skills indicating the beneficial effects of engaging in chat. Based on these findings, suggestions for the future chatbot study are discussed.