KalaamBot and KalimaBot: Applications of chatbots in learning arabic as a foreign language

Chatbot technology is a subfield of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that deals with text-based or speech-based conversational agents. In general terms, a chatbot enables a user to have a conversational interaction with a computer. Chatbots have applications in several fields including trade, tourism, customer care, health services, education, et cetera. This chapter describes two chatbot systems that we are developing for learning Arabic as a foreign language. KalaamBot is a speech-based chatbot that converses with learners and teaches them the language in a conversational setting. KalimaBot is a text-based personal vocabulary assistant that enables students to search for the meaning of words, synonyms, antonyms, and word usage in context. This chapter provides extensive discussion of the several challenges second language researchers and chatbot practitioners encounter when designing chatbotsfor language learning. Then, it concludes with recommendations and future research.