The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Facilitating English Speaking Skills among EFL Learners

This review synthesizes existing research on the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for enhancing English speaking among English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. It highlights how AI technologies such as conversational agents, voice chatbots, and AI-powered platforms provide interactive, personalized, and low-anxiety environments that promote speaking practice. Empirical studies in diverse contexts, including Sweden, Vietnam, and Iran, demonstrate that AI tools bring about improved fluency, accuracy, vocabulary, and learner confidence. These tools also mitigate common EFL learner issues, such as limited exposure to English-speaking contexts and speaking anxiety, by offering personalized feedback and the potential for repeated practice. However, the review also discusses several limitations, including small sample sizes, short intervention durations, reliance on self-reported data, and technical constraints of current AI systems. Despite these limitations, AI has great potential to transform language teaching by closing linguistic, social, and emotional gaps in EFL learning. The review concludes with recommendations for future research using larger and more diverse samples, longitudinal studies, and more sophisticated AI feedback mechanisms to harness the full potential of AI in teaching English speech. The synthesis aims to inform instructors, developers, and stakeholders on how to optimally use AI in language acquisition.

کلیدواژه ها:

Artificial Intelligence ، Speaking Skill ، EFL learners