Educational AI Chatbots for Content and Language Integrated Learning

TLDR

AI technology in learning environments presents new challenges, while conversational AI offers innovative ICT tools such as chatbots. This study reports field experiments with AsasaraBot, an educational AI chatbot designed to teach high‑school students cultural content in a foreign language as part of CLIL. AsasaraBot was built with open‑source software, delivers lessons on the Minoan Civilization—particularly the Snake Goddess figurine—and was evaluated in public and private Greek language schools. Experiments show that AI chatbot‑based interactive learning effectively supports simultaneous acquisition of foreign language skills and cultural knowledge.

Abstract

Using advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology in learning environments is one of the latest challenges for educators and education policymakers. Conversational AI brings new possibilities for alternative and innovative Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) tools, such as AI chatbots. This paper reports on field experiments with an AI chatbot and provides insights into its contribution to Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL). More specifically, this paper presents an experimental use case of an educational AI chatbot called AsasaraBot, designed to teach high school students cultural content in a foreign language, i.e., English or French. The content is related to the Minoan Civilization, emphasizing the characteristic figurine of the Minoan Snake Goddess. The related chatbot-based educational program has been evaluated at public and private language schools in Greece. The findings from these experiments show that the use of AI chatbot technology for interactive ICT-based learning is suitable for learning foreign languages and cultural content at the same time. The AsasaraBot AI chatbot has been designed and implemented in the context of a postgraduate project using open-source and free software.