The Effect of AI Avatars on Interactional Speaking Skills of Eighth-Grade Students at SMP Tahfidz Mutiara Al-Akbar
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Abstrak
This study investigated the effect of integrating AI Avatars on enhancing the interactional speaking skills of eighth-grade students at SMP Tahfidz Mutiara Al-Akbar. The research addressed the gap between students' current speaking proficiency and the learning outcomes of the Merdeka Curriculum, which emphasizes active communicative competence. Employing a quantitative approach with a one-group pretest–posttest design, the study involved seven students selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through oral assessments and mapped against the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) benchmarks. The instructional intervention utilized AI platforms, specifically Hedra AI, Dreamina, and Canva, integrated across three instructional stages: pre-teaching, while-teaching, and post-teaching. The findings revealed an initial pre-test mean score of 2.66, placing the students at the B1 (Intermediate) level. Following the intervention, the post-test mean score increased to 3.45, indicating a statistically significant improvement, particularly in responsiveness, fluency, and sociolinguistic accuracy. The study concludes that AI Avatars provide a low-anxiety and immersive learning environment that effectively enhances student engagement and fosters communicative competence in real-life social contexts.
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