Integrating AI-Driven Emotional Intelligence in Language Learning Platforms to Improve English Speaking Skills through Real-Time Adaptive Feedback

This groundbreaking study introduces the first-ever integration of emotional intelligence (EI) with artificial intelligence in English-speaking instruction through an emotionally adaptive language learning system. Through a mixed-method design, the research examined this innovative approach’s impact on speaking proficiency among 40 high school students (aged 15-18) from Varamin County, Iran. The experimental group (n=20) engaged with the novel “Amazon Alexa-Speak” Speaking Assessment System, featuring AI-driven EI-based real-time feedback; in contrast, the control group (n=20) received conventional instruction over six sessions following a pretest to ensure group homogeneity. The study employed a concurrent mixed method design, collecting quantitative data through the “Amazon Alexa-Speak” Speaking Assessment System and the researcher-made perception questionnaire; qualitative data came from researcher-made classroom observation checklists and researcher-made semi-structured interviews (n=20), focusing on emotional state monitoring and anxiety reduction patterns. Statistical analyses revealed a significant positive correlation between EI and speaking performance (p < 0.05, η2 = 0.42), with the experimental group showing substantially enhanced proficiency (F(1,38) = 24.63, p < 0.05). The system’s emotional state detection algorithm demonstrated 94% accuracy in identifying and responding to learners’ affective states. This study presents a paradigm shift in language education technology by introducing the first system that simultaneously addresses cognitive and emotional aspects of language acquisition. The findings have significant implications for the global language learning market, particularly in addressing speaking anxiety and emotional barriers in language learning. This technology’s scalability and cross-cultural applicability make it a potentially transformative solution for language education worldwide, opening new avenues for emotionally intelligent educational technology development.