Juan Long, Qin Yang, Yina Peng, Lei Pan
It is widely known that artificial intelligence (AI) offers creative opportunities for enhancing English language students' performance. Nevertheless, there is little information regarding the effect of AI-based tools on students' willingness to communicate (WTC). In addition, emotional variables like grit and enjoyment can affect the EFL students' WTC. Thus, the present research investigated the effect of AI on the learners' WTC by taking into account the mediating effect of enjoyment and grit. To this end, 240 English as a foreign language learners in China participated in this research and were assigned to two groups, namely the experimental group and the control group. The former got engaged in communicative tasks with an AI-based tool; however, the other one got engaged in traditional communicative tasks. After the eight-week intervention, both groups completed the questionnaires. A parallel mediation analysis was run, and the results revealed that both groups showed improvement in WTC, while the improvement in the experimental group was greater. The results also revealed that both grit and enjoyment were significant mediators in this effect. Grit uniquely accounted for 9.72% of the effect, and enjoyment accounted for 13.31% of it. In addition, the results can direct future research on embedding AI-based tools into language teaching, spreading supportive and inclusive settings. Suggestions are also provided for FL teachers.