In this roundtable, the presentation explores how integrating listener-oriented speaking activities before writing tasks fosters communicative engagement in EFL classrooms amid the rise of generative AI. The findings show that repeated interaction with a real peer listener enhanced learners' engagement, confidence, and sense of agency. Further findings reveal that explicitly teaching speaker and listener skills significantly improved writing accuracy without any direct grammar instruction. Taken together, the results highlight the value of interaction-focused pedagogy and open up discussion on how to balance AI use with the social processes of learning.
Selected as a Finalist for the Best of JURE Award at JURE 2026
