THE POTENTIAL OF USING CHAT-BOTS IN TEACHING ENGLISH TO ECONOMIC STUDENTS

Abstract

The article deals with a problem of modernizing the process of foreign language training through the introduction of the latest achievements of technological progress into the practice of teaching foreign languages the capabilities of artificial intelligence. In the work, the author reveals the potential of using chatbots in the process of teaching English. The aim of the study is to establish the merits of applying students of economic specialties to communication with virtual assistants while developing students’ foreign language skills in the field of all main types of speech activity in a foreign language (both productive and receptive), as well as in improving students’ foreign language competencies (linguistic, lexical, grammatical, communicative, including the ones for the digital environment). The article analyzes central concepts of the study, notes advantages and possible problems that are found in the process of using chatbots in academic discourse. As a result, the author outlines a range of methodological recommendations addressed to English language teachers on using the capabilities of chatbots in the process of teaching a foreign language to students of economic areas of study.