Integrating an Adjusted Conversational Agent into a Mobile-Assisted Language Learning Application

Conversational interfaces are used for a variety of applications. They are constructed to offer useful services and to interact with the users in order to assist them. Towards this direction, the current paper presents the incorporation of the interactive chatterbot ALICE in a mobile-assisted English language learning application. This chatterbot is further enriched with mechanisms in order to support students while learning vocabulary in English. As such, apart from making conversation with this conversational agent, they can practice their vocabulary or even be evaluated by the chatterbot. Hence, this study offers a fertile ground to enhance pedagogical results such as fostering motivation and engagement, incrementing crucial language learning and assisting in the acquisition of cognitive skills. Finally, the students can chat with the pedagogic conversational agent either orally or by writing.