# EDEN: Empathetic Dialogues for English learning

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2406.17982 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2406.17982/

## Key facts

- Cited by 5 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 8 of its 75 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 25 Jun 2024.

## Builds on (most cited first, 8 of 8)

- [Llama 2: Open Foundation and Fine-Tuned Chat Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2307.09288/) (2023)
- [wav2vec 2.0: A Framework for Self-Supervised Learning of Speech Representations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2006.11477/) (2020)
- [DSPy: Compiling Declarative Language Model Calls into Self-Improving Pipelines](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2310.03714/) (2023)
- [LM-Critic: Language Models for Unsupervised Grammatical Error Correction](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2109.06822/) (2021)
- [Curriculum-Driven Edubot: A Framework for Developing Language Learning Chatbots Through Synthesizing Conversational Data](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2309.16804/) (2023)
- [SERRANT: a syntactic classifier for English Grammatical Error Types](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2104.02310/) (2021)
- [Using Adaptive Empathetic Responses for Teaching English](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2404.13764/) (2024)
- [FreeTalky: Don't Be Afraid! Conversations Made Easier by a Humanoid Robot using Persona-based Dialogue](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2112.04126/) (2021)

## Built on by (most cited first, 5 of 5)

- [Which of These Best Describes Multiple Choice Evaluation with LLMs? A) Forced B) Flawed C) Fixable D) All of the Above](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.14127/) (2025)
- [Position: LLMs Can be Good Tutors in English Education](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.05467/) (2025)
- [Animating Language Practice: Engagement with Stylized Conversational Agents in Japanese Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2507.06483/) (2025)
- [A Concise Agent is Less Expert: Revealing Side Effects of Using Style Features on Conversational Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2601.10809/) (2026)
- [Re:Member: Emotional Question Generation from Personal Memories](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2510.19030/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Dialogue systems have been used as conversation partners in English learning, but few have studied whether these systems improve learning outcomes. Student passion and perseverance, or grit, has been associated with language learning success. Recent work establishes that as students perceive their English teachers to be more supportive, their grit improves. Hypothesizing that the same pattern applies to English-teaching chatbots, we create EDEN, a robust open-domain chatbot for spoken conversation practice that provides empathetic feedback. To construct EDEN, we first train a specialized spoken utterance grammar correction model and a high-quality social chit-chat conversation model. We then conduct a preliminary user study with a variety of strategies for empathetic feedback. Our experiment suggests that using adaptive empathetic feedback leads to higher perceived affective support. Furthermore, elements of perceived affective support positively correlate with student grit.