The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of AI-powered experiential learning in enhancing the communicative competence of intermediate-level Mandarin learners in higher education. Grounded in communicative competence theory and experiential learning theory, the study investigated whether integrating AI-supported experiential learning into Mandarin instruction improves learners’ communicative competence compared to traditional classroom instruction. A quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-test was employed. Participants included 58 intermediate-level Mandarin learners enrolled in university language program in the United States. Students were assigned to either an experimental group engaged in AI-powered experiential learning using generative AI tools or a control group receiving traditional instruction. Communicative competence was measured across grammatical, sociolinguistic, discourse, and strategic components. Data were analyzed using regression analyses to examine predictive relationships and mixed-design ANOVA to examine changes over time between instructional conditions. Results showed that speaking confidence significantly predicted communicative competence, explaining about 25% of the variance. Both experimental and control groups demonstrated significant improvements in communicative competence over time. However, no statistically significant differences were found between the AI-powered experiential learning group and the traditional instruction group. Findings suggest that while AI-powered activities provided grammar practice and low-stakes speaking rehearsal, their effectiveness depended on thoughtful pedagogical integration within experiential learning frameworks. This study highlights the importance of affective factors, particularly speaking confidence, in language development and emphasizes the role of sustained AI-powered experiential learning in developing communicative competence. Implications from this study inform the integration of generative AI tools into higher education language instruction to enhance authentic communication practice and support Mandarin language learning.
