Using an Artificial Intelligent Speaking Assessment Platform—EAP Talk—to Develop EFL Speaking Skills

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies have been widely researched in recent years and found to be useful in developing the speaking skills of English as a foreign language (EFL) learners. The AI-generated scores and feedback could help learners improve pronunciation, intonation, fluency, vocabulary and grammar. Additionally, AI can create a safe and private environment for learners to practise without fear of ridicule, reducing stress and anxiety while enhancing their communicative confidence. English language learning applications that incorporate AI technology have also been widely proven to be capable of facilitating independent speaking practice for learners. However, there is a dearth of research evaluating AI applications for the individual speaking practice of EFL learners in mainland China. Insufficient evaluations of particular English learning applications designed for Chinese speakers might impede university EFL teachers and researchers from acknowledging the potential benefits of these tools. This chapter delineates the primary features of a novel AI-driven speech assessment platform, EAP Talk, developed by Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU). It illustrates how this program enhances students’ speaking abilities and its potential utility in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and EFL education. Moreover, it introduces the program’s effectiveness and high acceptance through previous experimental studies, alongside identifying future AI-assisted language learning and teaching research avenues.