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About

Nafiseh Sadat Haeri is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of second language acquisition and educational technology, best known for her groundbreaking work in Robot-Assisted Language Learning (RALL). Her primary research focuses on how humanoid robots can transform foreign language instruction, particularly for young learners. Haeri’s most significant contribution is demonstrating that RALL effectively teaches L2 pragmatics—such as speech acts, politeness, and greetings—to preschool and elementary EFL students. Her landmark 2020 study on robot-assisted instruction of pragmatics (50 citations) showed that children as young as three to six years old can acquire complex social-linguistic skills through interaction with robots. Her 2017 observational study (34 citations) further revealed that RALL significantly reduces learner anxiety while boosting motivation and engagement. This work positions her as a leader in integrating robotics into early childhood education. Haeri’s research has practical implications for designing interactive, low-anxiety language learning environments, and her findings on greeting instruction (10 citations) highlight the potential of robots to teach culturally-specific politeness norms. Her innovative approach bridges human-robot interaction and applied linguistics, making her a key figure in the future of technology-mediated language education.