Cognitive Effects of Robot-Assisted Language Learning on Oral Skills

Abstract

This study introduces the educational assistant robots that we developed for foreign language learning and explores the effectiveness of robot-assisted language learning (RALL). To achieve this purpose, a course was designed in which students have meaningful interactions with intelligent robots in an immersive environment. A total of 24 elementary students, ranging in age from 9 to 13, were enrolled in English lessons. A pre-test/post-test design was used to investigate the cognitive effects of the RALL approach on the students ‟ oral skills. No significant difference in the listening skill was found, but the speaking skills improved, with a large effect size at the significance level of 0.01.. Index Terms: robot-assisted language learning, RALL, r-Learning, computer-assisted language learning, CALL, foreign language learning, second language acquisition 1.