View in EDS

Alexa -- Teach Me Spanish: A Study of Autonomous Use of Voice-Activated Personal Assistants for Language Learning

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Alexa -- Teach Me Spanish: A Study of Autonomous Use of Voice-Activated Personal Assistants for Language Learning
Language: English
Authors: Fernando Rosell-Aguilar (ORCID 0000-0001-9057-0565)
Source: The EUROCALL Review. 2025 32(2):117-131.
Availability: European Association for Computer-Assisted Language Learning (EUROCALL). EUROCALL Headquarters, School of Modern Languages, University of Ulster, Cromore Road, Coleraine BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland, UK. Tel: +34-67-943-1283; Web site: http://www.eurocall-languages.org/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 15
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Artificial Intelligence, Natural Language Processing, Technology Uses in Education, Second Language Learning, College Students, Spanish, Independent Study, Student Attitudes, Computer Oriented Programs, Synchronous Communication
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
ISSN: 1695-2618
Abstract: Voice-activated Personal Assistants (VAPAs), such as Alexa or Siri, can be utilised for autonomous language learning purposes ranging from asking simple questions about the culture of the target language to interaction in the target language with the intelligent assistant. These technologies can help with tasks such as looking up words, spelling, and pronunciation checking, as well as motivating learners to produce output in their target language. However, VAPAs are primarily designed to be utilised in the user's first language rather than a second language, and learners often overlook their potential to assist in their language learning process. This paper reports on a study to gather data on university student use of VAPAs. The research questions asked students taking Spanish language modules at a UK Higher Education institution about their use of VAPAs for language learning. The results show that most participants own a device with a VAPA, and some use it for language learning purposes, although this is a relatively small proportion. They also identify potential further user engagement. The paper concludes that the potential of VAPAs for language learning needs to be included in the range of resources that students are directed to for autonomous language learning study and practice.
Abstractor: As Provided
Notes: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.24542530.v1
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1494445
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=EJ1494445
    Name: ERIC Full Text
    Category: fullText
    Text: Full Text from ERIC
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1494445
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Alexa -- Teach Me Spanish: A Study of Autonomous Use of Voice-Activated Personal Assistants for Language Learning
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fernando+Rosell-Aguilar%22">Fernando Rosell-Aguilar</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9057-0565">0000-0001-9057-0565</externalLink>)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22The+EUROCALL+Review%22"><i>The EUROCALL Review</i></searchLink>. 2025 32(2):117-131.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: European Association for Computer-Assisted Language Learning (EUROCALL). EUROCALL Headquarters, School of Modern Languages, University of Ulster, Cromore Road, Coleraine BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland, UK. Tel: +34-67-943-1283; Web site: http://www.eurocall-languages.org/
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 15
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research<br />Tests/Questionnaires
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Artificial+Intelligence%22">Artificial Intelligence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Natural+Language+Processing%22">Natural Language Processing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Technology+Uses+in+Education%22">Technology Uses in Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Second+Language+Learning%22">Second Language Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Students%22">College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Spanish%22">Spanish</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Independent+Study%22">Independent Study</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+Oriented+Programs%22">Computer Oriented Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Synchronous+Communication%22">Synchronous Communication</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+Kingdom%22">United Kingdom</searchLink>
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 1695-2618
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Voice-activated Personal Assistants (VAPAs), such as Alexa or Siri, can be utilised for autonomous language learning purposes ranging from asking simple questions about the culture of the target language to interaction in the target language with the intelligent assistant. These technologies can help with tasks such as looking up words, spelling, and pronunciation checking, as well as motivating learners to produce output in their target language. However, VAPAs are primarily designed to be utilised in the user's first language rather than a second language, and learners often overlook their potential to assist in their language learning process. This paper reports on a study to gather data on university student use of VAPAs. The research questions asked students taking Spanish language modules at a UK Higher Education institution about their use of VAPAs for language learning. The results show that most participants own a device with a VAPA, and some use it for language learning purposes, although this is a relatively small proportion. They also identify potential further user engagement. The paper concludes that the potential of VAPAs for language learning needs to be included in the range of resources that students are directed to for autonomous language learning study and practice.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: Note
  Label: Notes
  Group: Note
  Data: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.24542530.v1
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1494445
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1494445
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 15
        StartPage: 117
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Artificial Intelligence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Natural Language Processing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Technology Uses in Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Second Language Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Spanish
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Independent Study
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Computer Oriented Programs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Synchronous Communication
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: United Kingdom
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Alexa -- Teach Me Spanish: A Study of Autonomous Use of Voice-Activated Personal Assistants for Language Learning
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Fernando Rosell-Aguilar
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1695-2618
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 32
            – Type: issue
              Value: 2
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: The EUROCALL Review
              Type: main
ResultId 1