International Conference 2019
Featured Session
Building an AI Chatbot and L2 Tasks for Young Learners
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This research is a part of the two-year AI chatbot project funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF). The purpose of this study is to introduce a new idea of integrating an artificial intelligent chatbot into the ESOL classroom and to investigate its effectiveness. The target setting is an elementary English class. AI chatbot-based speaking tasks were provided, and the participants, fifth and sixth graders, in small groups interacted with AI speakers to complete tasks. The presenter explains (a) the method of building an AI chatbot for Korean elementary school students, (b) the types of AI chatbot tasks created by Kim (2018), based on the national curriculum, and also (c) how they worked in public school classrooms. Finally, the findings of the three-week-long experiments are briefly reported, especially focusing on chatbot and L2 learner interaction patterns, benefits from the new technology, and barriers to using chatbots in the current elementary school classroom and English curriculum.
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Biographical Sketch
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Heyoung Kim is a professor at Chung-Ang University, Seoul, and also currently on the editorial committee of AsiaTEFL, as well as vice president of KAMALL. Her special interest is computer-assisted language learning (CALL), especially, mobile-assisted language learning (MALL), and other new technology for language learning and instruction, such as AI chatbots. Her recent publications are “A study of AI chatbots as an assistant tool for the school English curriculum” and “The flipped classroom as a paradigm shift for teaching EFL in Korea" (in the AsiaTEFL book series).
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Heyoung Kim Media Online
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Personal Website: https://heyoung2010.wixsite.com/englishnet/
Researchgate.net: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Heyoung_Kim2
Heyoung Kim is the AsiaTEFL speaker to the 2019 Korea TESOL International Conference.
