Adaptive second language tutoring using generative AI and a social robot
- Author
- Eva Verhelst (UGent) , Ruben Janssens (UGent) , Thomas Demeester (UGent) , Tony Belpaeme (UGent) and [missing] Assoc Computing Machinery
- Organization
- Project
- Abstract
- The most effective second language learning occurs through extensive interpersonal interaction and tutoring. However, limited funding and a lack of language teachers often prevent students from engaging in individualised practice, a lack which can be addressed using AI and social robots. We present a system that leverages generative AI to provide customized educational content in real-time, adapting to students' skills through an engaging, visually-grounded game played alongside a social robot. To test effectiveness, we conducted a study in which Dutch high school students learned Spanish vocabulary either with or without the robot present. Results showed significant vocabulary gains regardless of robot presence, indicating the game itself, not the social embodiment, drove learning. While further refinements are needed, these findings highlight the potential for generative AI to deliver personalized language tutoring and circumvent the constraints posed by limited resources and staffing in schools. Ongoing work aims to enhance social presence and better align generative content with individuals' abilities and pacing.
- Keywords
- Social Robots, Generative AI, Robot-Assisted Language Learning, Natural Language Processing
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Citation
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication: http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-01HSGNXGECZKJTG3JTP32M10CG
- MLA
- Verhelst, Eva, et al. “Adaptive Second Language Tutoring Using Generative AI and a Social Robot.” COMPANION OF THE 2024 ACM/IEEE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HUMAN-ROBOT INTERACTION, HRI 2024 COMPANION, edited by Dan Grollman and Elizabeth Broadbent, Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), 2024, pp. 1080–84, doi:10.1145/3610978.3640559.
- APA
- Verhelst, E., Janssens, R., Demeester, T., Belpaeme, T., & Assoc Computing Machinery, [missing]. (2024). Adaptive second language tutoring using generative AI and a social robot. In D. Grollman & E. Broadbent (Eds.), COMPANION OF THE 2024 ACM/IEEE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HUMAN-ROBOT INTERACTION, HRI 2024 COMPANION (pp. 1080–1084). https://doi.org/10.1145/3610978.3640559
- Chicago author-date
- Verhelst, Eva, Ruben Janssens, Thomas Demeester, Tony Belpaeme, and [missing] Assoc Computing Machinery. 2024. “Adaptive Second Language Tutoring Using Generative AI and a Social Robot.” In COMPANION OF THE 2024 ACM/IEEE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HUMAN-ROBOT INTERACTION, HRI 2024 COMPANION, edited by Dan Grollman and Elizabeth Broadbent, 1080–84. Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). https://doi.org/10.1145/3610978.3640559.
- Chicago author-date (all authors)
- Verhelst, Eva, Ruben Janssens, Thomas Demeester, Tony Belpaeme, and [missing] Assoc Computing Machinery. 2024. “Adaptive Second Language Tutoring Using Generative AI and a Social Robot.” In COMPANION OF THE 2024 ACM/IEEE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HUMAN-ROBOT INTERACTION, HRI 2024 COMPANION, ed by. Dan Grollman and Elizabeth Broadbent, 1080–1084. Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). doi:10.1145/3610978.3640559.
- Vancouver
- 1.Verhelst E, Janssens R, Demeester T, Belpaeme T, Assoc Computing Machinery [missing]. Adaptive second language tutoring using generative AI and a social robot. In: Grollman D, Broadbent E, editors. COMPANION OF THE 2024 ACM/IEEE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HUMAN-ROBOT INTERACTION, HRI 2024 COMPANION. Association for Computing Machinery (ACM); 2024. p. 1080–4.
- IEEE
- [1]E. Verhelst, R. Janssens, T. Demeester, T. Belpaeme, and [missing] Assoc Computing Machinery, “Adaptive second language tutoring using generative AI and a social robot,” in COMPANION OF THE 2024 ACM/IEEE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HUMAN-ROBOT INTERACTION, HRI 2024 COMPANION, Boulder, USA, 2024, pp. 1080–1084.
@inproceedings{01HSGNXGECZKJTG3JTP32M10CG,
abstract = {{The most effective second language learning occurs through extensive interpersonal interaction and tutoring. However, limited funding and a lack of language teachers often prevent students from engaging in individualised practice, a lack which can be addressed using AI and social robots. We present a system that leverages generative AI to provide customized educational content in real-time, adapting to students' skills through an engaging, visually-grounded game played alongside a social robot. To test effectiveness, we conducted a study in which Dutch high school students learned Spanish vocabulary either with or without the robot present. Results showed significant vocabulary gains regardless of robot presence, indicating the game itself, not the social embodiment, drove learning. While further refinements are needed, these findings highlight the potential for generative AI to deliver personalized language tutoring and circumvent the constraints posed by limited resources and staffing in schools. Ongoing work aims to enhance social presence and better align generative content with individuals' abilities and pacing.}},
author = {{Verhelst, Eva and Janssens, Ruben and Demeester, Thomas and Belpaeme, Tony and Assoc Computing Machinery, [missing]}},
booktitle = {{COMPANION OF THE 2024 ACM/IEEE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HUMAN-ROBOT INTERACTION, HRI 2024 COMPANION}},
editor = {{Grollman, Dan and Broadbent, Elizabeth}},
isbn = {{9798400703232}},
keywords = {{Social Robots,Generative AI,Robot-Assisted Language Learning,Natural Language Processing}},
language = {{eng}},
location = {{Boulder, USA}},
pages = {{1080--1084}},
publisher = {{Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)}},
title = {{Adaptive second language tutoring using generative AI and a social robot}},
url = {{http://doi.org/10.1145/3610978.3640559}},
year = {{2024}},
}
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