Exploring the Effects of an AI Chatbot on Emotional Engagement in English Speaking Lessons: Insights from Call Annie

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in English language teaching is becoming more common, especially in enhancing students’ confidence levels in speaking lessons. Existing literature has provided insights into how AI can be incorporated to facilitate students' learning in diverse contexts, although the number of studies on how AI chatbots can improve students' emotional engagement is limited. This study aims to explore how using an AI tool called Call Annie affects students’ emotional and behavioral engagement when assigned as homework. 77 English-majored students participated in a three-week project where they used the application to have regular conversations with Call Annie – an AI-powered conversational agent. Two questionnaires were administered in the first and third weeks. Emotional engagement levels, regarding confidence and anxiety, concerns, and behavioral degree related to willingness to communicate (WTC) were compared using a paired-sample T-Test. The results indicated increased levels of confidence and WTC, despite some ongoing concerns about the use of the tool. These findings suggest that Call Annie can enhance emotional engagement, paving the way for more personalized learning experiences through the use of AI chatbots.