My Experience Using a Chatbot for Speaking Practice

For this assignment, I used a chatbot to discuss whether robot co-teachers should be trusted in schools. The experience was interesting because it allowed me to practice English communication while exploring a topic related to education and technology. Since I am studying English Language Teaching, I found the topic especially relevant to my future career.

One aspect that I enjoyed was the chatbot’s ability to respond quickly and provide detailed answers. The conversation was smooth and the chatbot was able to follow my questions without losing track of the topic. This made the discussion feel organized and productive. At the same time, I noticed that the quality of the chatbot’s responses depended greatly on the quality of my questions. When I asked more specific questions, I received more detailed and useful answers.

Another benefit of the experience was the opportunity to practice English in a comfortable environment. Unlike conversations with real people, there was no fear of making mistakes or being judged. This can be really useful for language learners who feel anxious about speaking. In addition, the chatbot introduced different viewpoints that encouraged me to think more critically about the topic.

As a future English teacher, I can imagine integrating similar AI tools into my classroom. We also talked about this in class but for example, students could use chatbots to practice speaking, participate in role-play activities, or discuss course topics outside class hours (because of school rules etc.). Such activities could increase student engagement and provide additional opportunities for language use.

However, AI tools also have limitations. Chatbots do not possess genuine emotions, personal experiences, or human intuition. They may occasionally provide inaccurate information or oversimplified explanations. Therefore, they should be viewed as supportive learning tools rather than replacements for teachers.

Overall, this assignment again helped me better understand how AI can support language learning and communication practice. While AI cannot replace human interaction, it can offer valuable opportunities for learners to develop confidence, improve language skills, and engage with meaningful topics.