This study examines the impact of structured soft skills training on psychological well-being, learner motivation, and autonomy in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) instruction for undergraduate economics students at the University of Žilina, Slovakia (n=60). The pedagogical intervention was theoretically grounded in Seligman’s PERMA model, aligned with the OECD Learning Compass 2030, with an emphasis on collaboration, adaptability, intercultural communication, metacognition, and ethical reflection. The intervention focused on developing metacognitive and self-regulatory competencies through AI-supported, gamified tools (Coach.me, Daylio, and SuperBetter) that target core soft skills: stress management, energy management, emotional support, motivational engagement, and a sense of belonging. A mixed-methods research design was applied to test three hypotheses related to emotional safety, task engagement, and learner autonomy. Quantitative data were collected using a pre-post self-assessment questionnaire (5-point Likert scale). Qualitative data (reflective journals, open-ended items) were analyzed and coded. The results demonstrated notable improvements across all measured dimensions, confirmed by descriptive statistics and inferential analyses (means, t-tests, effect sizes). Qualitative findings confirm enhanced well-being through emotional safety, motivation through task engagement, and autonomy through self-regulated learning. The study highlights the development of transferable soft skills in tertiary ESP, underscoring the potential of AI-supported tools to foster self-improvement learning that synergizes positive emotional stimuli with AI-based technologies, satisfying digital natives’ needs for 21st-century professional practice.

Authors:
Olga Kissova, University Zilina, Slovakia
Ivana Micinova, Paneuropean University, Czech Republic

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Olga Kissová is currently the Associate Professir of English language and the Coordinator of Foreign Languages at the University of Zilina, Slovakia, and previously the Director of a primary school and a lecturer in English and Russian languages at state and private language schools and courses.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/olga-kissova-03728610a/

Connect on ResearchGate
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Olga-Kissova

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