Speaker
Description
Amidst the contemporary paradigm shift towards digital educational transformation and continuous curriculum revisions in Vietnam, cultivating high-level communicative competence for gifted learners has become a critical pedagogical priority. However, English-majored students at gifted high schools in remote, northern mountainous provinces face unique geographical and instructional constraints, including a critical lack of authentic English-speaking environments and limited opportunities to interact with native speakers. Despite their robust grammatical foundations, these high-achieving learners often grapple with limited fluency and lack individualized spaces for real-time oral production. To address these localized bottlenecks, this study investigates the efficacy of integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications—specifically ChatGPT, ELSA Speak, and Google Speech-to-Text—into speaking instruction to enhance oral proficiency and foster learner autonomy. Adopting a mixed-methods, quasi-experimental design, the study tracked 35 grade 10 participants over an intensive 8-week intervention period. Data collection instruments comprised IELTS-based pre- and post-tests assessing core speaking criteria, supplemented by qualitative self-reflection videos. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses demonstrated significant positive variances in students’ oral performance, with the majority shifting from intermediate baselines to advanced levels. Post-intervention, substantial growth was observed in pronunciation accuracy, lexical retrieval, and fluency. Pedagogically, the AI tools acted as critical scaffolding mechanisms, providing a low-stakes environment that stimulated target-language automaticity. Ultimately, this research provides empirical substantiation and actionable pedagogical frameworks for ESL educators, demonstrating how strategic AI-driven integration can effectively democratize access to high-quality speaking environments for talented students in disadvantaged EFL contexts.
Keywords: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Speaking Skills, Gifted High School, Disadvantaged Contexts, Learner Autonomy.
Biography
I'm Hoa, I 'm an English teacher at a gifted high school located in a mountainous region of Northwest Vietnam, where access to English language learning remains limited, particularly in the development of speaking skills. With five years of teaching experience, I have developed a strong interest in enhancing students’ communicative competence. My work focuses on addressing the challenges faced by learners in under-resourced contexts and exploring practical approaches to improve speaking proficiency. I am keen to share my classroom-based experiences and looks forward to engaging in professional dialogue and receiving constructive feedback from fellow educators.
| Affiliate type | Vietnamese public school |
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