Can Generative AI Chatbots Promote Second Language Acquisition? A Meta‐Analysis.

Background: Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) chatbots have shown great application potential and research value in the field of language learning, especially in second language acquisition (SLA). Objectives: This study aims to validate the value of GenAI chatbots for SLA and elucidate whic...

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Publicado en:Journal of Computer Assisted Learning Vol. 41; no. 4; pp. 1 - 19
Autores principales: Li, Mengdi, Wang, Yinyu, Yang, Xiaorong
Formato: meta analysis research systematic review tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Wiley-Blackwell Aug2025
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Aug2025
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      pub: Wiley-Blackwell
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        atl: Can Generative AI Chatbots Promote Second Language Acquisition? A Meta‐Analysis.
      aug:
        au:
          Li, Mengdi
          Wang, Yinyu
          Yang, Xiaorong
        affil: School of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
      sug:
        subj:
          Language Development
          Artificial Intelligence, Generative Utilization
          Chatbot Utilization
          Computer-Assisted Instruction Trends
          Educational Technology
          Funding Source
          Human
          Systematic Review
          Meta Analysis
          Diffusion of Innovation
          Time Factors
          Learning Environment
          Behavioral Objectives
          Educational Status
      ab: Background: Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) chatbots have shown great application potential and research value in the field of language learning, especially in second language acquisition (SLA). Objectives: This study aims to validate the value of GenAI chatbots for SLA and elucidate which moderating variables affect learning outcomes. Methods: The method of meta‐analysis was adopted to conduct this study. This study synthesised 41 experimental or quasi‐experimental studies on the application of GenAI chatbots in SLA from 2023 to date and extracted 48 independent effect sizes from them, with a total of 3515 participants. Results and Conclusions: The results showed that GenAI chatbots had a moderate to large positive impact on SLA (ES = 0.576, 95% CI = [0.385–0.768], p < 0.001). In addition, based on the theoretical framework, this study further explored the moderating effect of GenAI chatbots on SLA from the dimensions of adopters of innovation, innovation, time process, diffusion channels and social system. To be specific, there were no inter‐group differences in educational stage and learning environment, and there were intra‐group differences in other moderating variables. Among them, the first language (L1) represented by Indonesian, the second language (L2) other than English, the GenAI chatbot represented by ChatGPT, vocabulary as the learning objective of language, and the intervention time of 1–7 days had a large moderating effect. Additional implications for research and practice are discussed.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        meta analysis
        research
        systematic review
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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