THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INTEGRATING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN REDUCING ANXIETY AND IMPROVING STUDENTS' ENGLISH SPEAKING SKILLS

This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into English language learning on improving students’ speaking skills through a quasi-experimental design over eight weeks. The background of this study is based on students’ low speaking skills and high levels of foreign language anxiety, which often hinder communication performance. The study employed a pretest-posttest design on a single group using a mixed-methods approach to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. The instruments used included a speaking test based on a developed rubric, an anxiety questionnaire, and an observation sheet. The results indicated a significant improvement in students’ speaking scores following the intervention, accompanied by a reduction in anxiety levels to a more manageable level. The findings also indicate that the use of AI-based textual and auditory chatbots can create an interactive learning environment, boost self-confidence, and encourage meaning negotiation in communication. Overall, the integration of AI has proven to have a positive impact on students’ speaking outcomes and affective conditions, thereby implying the development of more adaptive and innovative English learning strategies in the classroom.