The Usage of AI Robot in English Language Teaching for City Revitalization Case Study: Toda Daini Elementary School, Toda City, Saitama, Japan

Abstract

In entering the era of Industrial Revolution 4.0, Artificial Intelligence (AI) becames one of Japan’s choices after experiencing economic stagnation. Without exception in education, the Japanese government continues to encourage the usage of AI to help human work because it is considered more practical and efficient. Recently, Toda City, Saitama prefecture, Japan has taken the initiative to use AI robots for English conversation classes in elementary schools. AI Robot is considered efficient because English conversation skill in Japanese schools is still lacking, and the practice still relies on the Assistant Language Training (ALT). The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the usage of AI robots with city revitalization through education. Besides, this study was conducted to find out the effectiveness and weaknesses of AI robots when used in teaching English in schools. This research method is a qualitative method with case studies in Toda Daini Elementary School, Toda City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan, through interviews. Also, Toda City Board of Education’s literature data was used for this study. The results of this study show that the usage of AI robots has an effect on city revitalization, and has advantages and disadvantages in implementing English teaching in Japan.