VietTESOL International Convention 2026

As Vietnam undergoes a strategic transition from EFL to ESL, military educational institutions face a critical challenge: the lack of an immersive environment for students to practice communication. This action research investigates the efficacy of leveraging Generative AI tools, specifically voice-interactive chatbots, to create an active language-learning environment for novice learners at a military college in Vietnam. Over an eight-week intervention, a cohort of 40 non-English major cadets across two classes were integrated with daily artificial intelligence-assisted speaking tasks mimicking real-world and routine military scenarios. Data were collected through pre- and post-intervention speaking assessments, classroom observations, and a post-survey questionnaire. The findings indicate a significant reduction in students' speaking anxiety and a marked improvement in their oral fluency. Notably, the simulated environment successfully provided continuous, low-stakes input and output opportunities, which are essential for the ESL paradigm shift. The study concludes with practical pedagogical recommendations for language instructors in military settings on how to effectively integrate intelligent technologies as a virtual conversational partner without compromising institutional regulations.