Enhancing EFL Speaking Practice with AI: A Hands-On Introduction to Tevo

One of the biggest challenges Japanese EFL learners face is limited access to speaking opportunities outside the classroom, which hinders fluency development. At the same time, the time-intensive nature of spoken tasks makes it difficult for teachers to provide individualized feedback and analytics. This hands-on workshop introduces Tevo, a web-based AI chatbot application designed to help solve both problems through role-based conversation, real-time feedback, and detailed learning analytics. After a short overview of Tevo’s core features, participants will create and deploy chatbots aligned to their own course content. You’ll get to experiment directly with voice-based interaction, explore the real-time feedback system, and examine how analytics can guide classroom instruction. We’ll conclude with a Q&A focused on best practices and strategies for integrating AI while preserving the central role of teachers.

AI Chatbots in EFL: Insights from a Two-Week University Pilot Using Tevo

A persistent obstacle for Japanese EFL learners is the lack of real-world speaking opportunities, while instructors face challenges providing personalized feedback for spoken language tasks. This presentation introduces Tevo, a web-based AI chatbot app designed to facilitate role-based conversation and generate automatic feedback. We report on a two-week pilot study conducted in a Japanese university speaking course, exploring how students engaged with Tevo, and what they perceived as its strengths and limitations. We’ll share qualitative and quantitative insights, including how the app impacted confidence, fluency, and classroom participation. The talk concludes with reflections on how generative AI can support—not replace—teachers by freeing up time for lesson design and targeted support.