L’Intelligenza Artificiale per l’apprendimento dell’italiano L2/LS. Risultati preliminari di una sperimentazione

The paper presents the preliminary results of an experimentation conducted by a research group at the University for Foreigners of Perugia as part of a project on the use of Artificial Intelligence-based technologies in an online course of Italian language and culture, with a CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) approach, aimed at a sample of Chinese university students. The Artificial Intelligence system, specially created by the research team, is trained on a corpus based on the "Italian Language Profile," with the aim of facilitating the learning of Italian as a second or foreign language. The dialogue systems developed, which are being tested and validated, allow interactive and personalized opportunities for language practice, immediate feedback and immersive conversational scenarios. Positive student feedback on the use of Artificial Intelligence for learning Italian as a foreign language, particularly for the development of written receptive and productive skills, is collected in the paper. The experimentation is part of a larger research project that aims to explore the potential of Artificial Intelligence in online language learning environments and its effects in terms of motivation, participation, interest and educational success.