THE IMPACT OF AI-POWERED CHATBOTS ON THE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' SPEAKING FLUENCY AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE ANXIETY: A QUANTITATIVE STUDY

Abstract

The effect of AI-powered chatbots on the English-speaking fluency and foreign language anxiety of the university students of Punjab and Government College (GC) universities was explored in this quantitative study. The study employed a quasi-experimental design, as the oral delivery and psychological comfort of the students were the two dependent variables, and AI integration (as the independent variable) affected both variables. The sample was the population that consisted of the undergraduate students of all of Punjab and different GC institutions, and a sample of 400 participants was chosen according to the sampling guidelines given by L.R. Gay to achieve the statistical validity and representativeness. The information was collected by using a standardized Speaking Fluency Rubric and the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) and later analyzed with the help of descriptive and inferential statistics. The results indicated that AI contact on a regular basis made an important contribution to speech fluency and offered a low stake setting that alleviated communication fear. It was concluded that AI-based conversational aids were effective pedagogic supplements in higher education, and it was suggested that the technologies should be incorporated into the Punjab ELT curriculum as a formal component to ensure that the gap between theoretical knowledge and the practical oral skills was bridged.