BRIDGING THE GAPS: AI TOOLS IN NAVIGATING LANGUAGE BARRIERS IN ENGLISH PROFICIENCY DEVELOPMENT
BRIDGING THE GAPS: AI TOOLS IN NAVIGATING LANGUAGE BARRIERS IN ENGLISH PROFICIENCY DEVELOPMENT

Summary/Abstract: This study addresses the critical issue of foreign language anxiety and the practical constraints inherent in traditional English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms. While English proficiency is pivotal for global professional and academic mobility, learners frequently encounter psychological barriers such as “interactional paralysis”, often intensified by high student-to-teacher ratios and limited opportunities for spontaneous practice. This research investigates the pedagogical affordances of four prominent AI-driven platforms (Gliglish, SmallTalk2Me, TalkPal, and Langua) by employing a heuristic evaluation framework. The findings indicate that these AI-mediated environments provide a psychologically secure “safe failure” space, effectively lowering the affective filter through non-judgmental, emotionally neutral interaction. The comparative analysis reveals that these tools facilitate a transition from theoretical knowledge to functional fluency by offering real-time phonetic feedback and immersive simulations. The study concludes by proposing a “stacked approach” for integrating AI into modern curricula, combining diagnostic precision with generative spontaneity to foster holistic communicative competence while acknowledging the irreplaceable role of human instructors.

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