When Even a Robot Tutor Zooms: A Study of Embodiment, Attitudes, and Impressions

This study used an online second language (L2) vocabulary lesson to evaluate whether the physical body (i.e., embodiment) of a robot tutor has impact on how learner learns from robot. In addition, we tested individual differences in attitudes toward robots, first impressions robot, anxiety learning L2, and personality traits may be related L2 learning. One hundred Turkish-speaking young adults were taught eight English words one-on-one Zoom session either with NAO ( N = 50) or voice-only 50). The findings showed that participants learned equally well voice tutors, indicating embodiment did not change gains short lesson. Further, negative robots had effects for condition, but predict two conditions. anxiety, other hand, negatively predicted outcomes both We also report remained unchanged before after As one examine effectiveness as lecturer, this presents example comparable regardless embodiment.