The Korean Association for the Study of English Language and Linguistics

[ Article ]

Korea Journal of English Language and Linguistics - Vol. 21, No. 0, pp.1085-1104

ISSN: 1598-1398 (Print) 2586-7474 (Online)

Print publication date 31 Jan 2021

Received 05 Oct 2021 Revised 27 Oct 2021 Accepted 29 Oct 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15738/kjell.21..202110.1085

Development and Application of AI Chatbot for Cabin Crews

Hyejin Yang ; Heyoung Kim

(1^st author) Researcher, Chung-Ang Univ. hjyang1112@gmail.com
(corresponding author) Professor, Chung-Ang Univ. englishnet@cau.ac.kr

© 2021 KASELL All rights reserved
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots have been attracting increasing research interest in recent years with particular attention to their development and integration into language classrooms. However, the attempts and discussions on how AI chatbots could support the learning of English for specific purposes (ESP) remain subpar. To address this gap, this article aimed to suggest possible ways to develop and apply AI chatbots for ESP, especially focusing on cabin crews’ English communication in their workplaces. A needs analysis consisting of ethnographic interviews and document analysis was conducted to identify the representative scenarios relevant to cabin crews’ duty, serving as the basis for the development of the AI chatbot. Thereafter, a pilot study was conducted with 24 cabin crews. Data were then analyzed based on thematic analysis, descriptive statistics, and frequency analysis using SPSS 24. The results revealed the cabin crews’ positive perceptions toward the chatbot, thereby supporting the educational value of the chatbot in the ESP field. The study also provided a list of implications for the future enhancement and application of AI chatbots for ESP.

Keywords:

cabin crews, needs analysis, task design, chatbot, English for specific purposes

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and the National Research Foundation of Korea (2020S1A5B5A01044015).

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