Can Instant Message Agent Enhance Foreign Language Learning?

Abstract

In today's highly globalized society, English is an important language to communicate with others. But English learning can not be sustained. This study developed an instant messaging system of English learning as the agent to help English learning become an ongoing activity. In this study, 98 college students were divided into a total of three groups, experimental A, B and the control group. The students in group A interact with instant messaging agents for real-time online interactive English tests, the students in group B learn English by the one-way instant messaging agents testing materials, and the control group use traditional learning methods. The experiments were conducted four weeks, and the results of the three different groups made no significant difference in learning outcomes. In addition, this study also discusses about the technology acceptance model(TAM) of using the instant messaging agents for the English language learning; the results showed that learners generally considered this system of the instant messaging agent is easy to use and can help learning English.