Science Students’ Beliefs of the Impact of Generative AI in English Education

Abstract

Since the emergence of generative AI, educators have been concerned with how to better guide English as a foreign language (EFL) learners (Uehara, 2023). Participants (N = 84) from EFL academic writing classes responded to a prompt on how they perceive the impacts of AI on English education. Results of values coding (Saldaña, 2021) showed that learners believe that AI provides learning benefits by gaining knowledge, personalisation, learning and equity. Conversely, dependency and deprived opportunities affect learning and reduces critical thinking. Respondents expressed both positive and negative impacts of AI, but expressed it can improve English proficiency if used with a critical thinking mind. To overcome challenges of AI, recommendations for teachers supporting learners include: facilitating regular in-depth discussions with students on the appropriate and ethical uses of AI tools and designing activities that engage and help bridge the gap between writing without digital aid and writing with AI-supported tools.

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