The Role of AI Chatbots like ChatGPT in Enhancing English Speaking Fluency: A Thematic Analytical Review

The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has significantly influenced language education, particularly through AI-powered chatbots such as ChatGPT, which offer new opportunities for enhancing English speaking fluency among English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. This thematic analytical review synthesizes findings from ۳۴ peer-reviewed studies published between ۲۰۲۰ and ۲۰۲۵, focusing on the multifaceted role of AI chatbots in improving oral fluency. Key themes identified include chatbot types and technologies, their effects on fluency development, learner perceptions, motivational factors, pedagogical implications, and existing challenges. The review finds that AI chatbots create low-anxiety, learner-centered environments that promote autonomous learning by enabling repeated, flexible practice and delivering immediate, context-sensitive feedback. These features contribute to significant improvements in speech rate, lexical diversity, syntactic complexity, and learner confidence. Furthermore, learners report increased motivation due to the accessibility and non-judgmental nature of chatbots, which reduce speaking anxiety and foster willingness to communicate. Despite these benefits, challenges such as limited emotional nuance, occasional inaccuracies, technological constraints in speech recognition, and potential overreliance on AI tools remain. Ethical concerns regarding data privacy and equity of access also require attention. Pedagogically, the integration of AI chatbots is most effective when combined with human instruction, ensuring comprehensive feedback and cultural appropriateness. This review concludes by recommending best practices for chatbot integration into EFL curricula and suggests directions for future research, including improving error correction capabilities, enhancing cultural sensitivity, and exploring long-term impacts across diverse learner populations. Overall, AI chatbots represent a promising complement to traditional language learning methods, with the potential to expand access to quality speaking practice and improve learner outcomes globally.

کلیدواژه ها:

Artificial Intelligence ، Chatbots ، English Speaking Fluency ، EFL Learners ، Language Learning Technology ، Learner Autonomy