AI-Assisted Communicative Tasks for Language for Specific Purposes on an Instant Messaging Platform

Text-based, audio-based, and video-based computer-mediated communication (CMC) has become integral to both social and professional interactions. In language education, CMC has been widely used to enhance learners' language production, task-based collaboration, and cultural exchange, with numerous studies documenting its positive effects (Kern et al., 2016; Lin, 2014). With advancements in AI, learners can now engage in more "natural" conversations with chatbots and access features like text suggestions, grammar correction, and instant transcription. When available on both web and mobile platforms, CMC increases the accessibility of communication language learning opportunities. In Language for Specific Purposes (LSP), CMC on mobile devices enables learners to collaboratively complete tasks that resemble real-world scenarios and links formal and informal learning contexts between teachers and students (Krystalli & Mavropoulou, 2020). This presentation reports on a case study where 30 intermediate Spanish learners used Pangea Chat, an AI-powered instant messaging platform, to engage in written, spoken, and listening tasks across six topics related to jobs, medicine, and the creative arts. Preliminary data analyses showed higher levels of engagement and collaboration compared to traditional pen-and-paper classroom activities. Additionally, students used built-in translation and grammar-checking tools during task completion, demonstrating attention to language form during meaning-focused activities, which promotes second language development (Long, 2015). Participants’ post-task reflections also indicated that integrating AI chat tools enhanced their understanding of cultural concepts in the Hispanic world relevant to LSP course objectives.

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