Educational strategies mediated by AI avatars to strengthen listening and speaking in higher education

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46502/issn.1856-7576/2026.20.02.15

Keywords:

foreign language communicative competence, digital avatars, foreign language, higher education, motivation

Abstract

The article explores the role of digital avatars as a tool to enhance the effectiveness of foreign language learning among university students and outlines effective educational strategies for their integration. The quantitative empirical design with elements of a quasi-experiment was used. An experimental group (n = 80) that studied using digital avatars and a control group (n = 80) that studied using traditional methods were used for comparison. The sample included students studying English (n = 84) and German (n = 76). The findings showed a significant advantage for the experimental group in communicative competence in a foreign language (p < 0.001; d = 0.68). A significant main effect of the use of avatars (η² = 0.11) without interaction with the language of instruction was also demonstrated. The intensity of the use of avatars had a positive effect on the aspects of motivation (r = 0.42) and engagement (r = 0.38). It was noted that the use of avatars was a predictor of competence (β = 0.31). The findings summarized that the most pronounced effects were found for listening and speaking.

Author Biographies

Olha Hvozdyak, Uzhhorod National University, Uzhhorod, Ukraine.   

Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor, Professor of the Department of German Philology, Faculty of Foreign Philology, Uzhhorod National University, Uzhhorod, Ukraine.   

Viktoriia Sikorska, Odesa State University of Internal Affairs, Odesa, Ukraine. 

Senior Lecturer at the Department of Language Training, Odesa State University of Internal Affairs, Odesa, Ukraine. 

Daria Kharytonova, State University of Trade and Economics, Kyiv, Ukraine. 

3 PhD (Philological Sciences), Associate Professor, Department of Foreign Philology and Translation, Faculty of Trade and Marketing, State University of Trade and Economics, Kyiv, Ukraine. 

Tamila Dovhaliuk, Vinnytsia Mykhailo Kotsiubynskyi State Pedagogical University, Vinnytsia, Ukraine. 

Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor, Associate Professor, Foreign Languages Department, English Language and Teaching Methodology Department, Vinnytsia Mykhailo Kotsiubynskyi State Pedagogical University, Vinnytsia, Ukraine. 

Svitlana Kozak, National University “Odessa Maritime Academy”, Odessa, Ukraine. 

PhD, Associate Professor, English Department in Marine Engineering, National University “Odessa Maritime Academy”, Odessa, Ukraine. 

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Published

2026-06-30

How to Cite

Hvozdyak, O., Sikorska, V., Kharytonova, D., Dovhaliuk, T., & Kozak, S. (2026). Educational strategies mediated by AI avatars to strengthen listening and speaking in higher education. Eduweb, 20(2), 253–271. https://doi.org/10.46502/issn.1856-7576/2026.20.02.15

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 2 (2026)

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Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Olha Hvozdyak, Viktoriia Sikorska, Daria Kharytonova, Tamila Dovhaliuk, Svitlana Kozak

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