Exploring the Effects of Using Automatic Speech Recognition on EFL University Students with High Speaking Anxiety

Abstract

This study explores the effects of Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) technology on English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students with high speaking anxiety. Conducted among 98 first-year university students in China, the research employed a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative data from a speaking anxiety questionnaire with qualitative insights from students’ reflective journals. Over 14 weeks, participants engaged in ASR-based speaking tasks, receiving real-time feedback to improve pronunciation and speaking competence. Findings indicate that ASR significantly reduced speaking anxiety, particularly in unprepared speaking tasks, and increased learners’ confidence in speaking English. However, peer-related anxieties persisted, suggesting ASR’s limitations in alleviating social anxieties in group contexts. The study concludes that while ASR is an effective tool for individual language practice, it should be supplemented with peer interaction strategies to address speaking anxiety more comprehensively.