New Publication: A Voice-Based App That Helps Students Speak a New Language More Fluently

We are happy to share a new study from Einbrain Lab, just published in the Journal of Educational Technology Systems:

“Designing and Evaluating a Voice-Based Chatbot System for Second Language Speaking Fluency and Learner Engagement”
Eun Young Oh, Jaesu Choi, & Donggil Song
Journal of Educational Technology Systems, March 26, 2026.
Read the full article (free, open access)

The Problem We Wanted to Solve

Learning to speak a new language takes a lot of practice, but most language classes do not have enough time for every student to speak as much as they need to. Students often feel nervous speaking in front of classmates, which makes things even harder. We asked: what if students could practice speaking on their phone, on their own schedule, with no pressure?

What Is EnMIA?

EnMIA is a free app built by Einbrain Lab that lets students practice speaking a new language through short, friendly conversations. The app listens to what students say, responds, and walks them through guided speaking activities. It works on any phone or computer, so students can use it at home, on campus, or anywhere else they feel comfortable.

What We Found

We worked with 38 students taking Korean language classes at a university in the Midwest. Students used EnMIA throughout the semester alongside their regular coursework. We compared how well they spoke Korean at the beginning and end of the semester. Here is what stood out:

• Students spoke more fluently. By the end of the semester, students spoke Korean noticeably more smoothly and naturally. The improvement was meaningful, not just a small change.
• Students liked using the app. On a 5-point scale, students rated the app above 4 out of 5 for helpfulness, ease of use, and overall design.
• More practice linked to higher motivation. Students who completed more speaking activities in the app also reported feeling more motivated to learn Korean overall.
• The app worked on any device. Students appreciated being able to use EnMIA on whatever phone or computer they already owned.

Why Does This Matter?

Most people learn a language to actually use it, not just to pass a test. Speaking practice is the part that is hardest to get enough of in a typical class. This study suggests that a simple, well-designed app can give students meaningful extra practice and help them feel more confident and motivated along the way.

We want to be upfront: this was a pilot study with a relatively small group at one university, and we did not have a comparison group that skipped the app. So we cannot say with certainty that EnMIA alone caused the improvements. Future studies will use larger groups and stronger research designs to build on these findings.

Read the Full Paper

The article is freely available online:
https://doi.org/10.1177/00472395261435622

Thank you to our collaborators Dr. Eun Young Oh and Dr. Jaesu Choi at Rice University, and to every student and instructor who participated. This research is part of Einbrain Lab's ongoing work to build technology that genuinely helps people learn.

This article is freely available to everyone thanks to Texas A&M University's open-access agreement with SAGE Publishing, which covers the publication fee so readers anywhere in the world can read it at no cost.