Examining the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) tools on Saudi Arabian ESL students’ writing skills

Authors

  • Samah Abduljawad Royal Commission for Yanbu Colleges and Institutes

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.28918/erudita.v4i2.8784

Abstract

The present study aims to determine the impact of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool on ESL students’ writing skills in Saudi Arabia. A mixed-method approach was designed in this study. A t-test approach was used for the quantitative research. The mean of the pre-test was 51.8, while the mean of the post-test was 79.46. The significant difference in the scores highlighted the positive influential effect of the AI tools on the ESL students’ writing skills. A focus group interview of five students was conducted for the qualitative analysis. The focus group participants discussed the following codes: AI’s impact on content organization, grammar, and vocabulary, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the AI tools. The interview highlighted that AI tools benefited students’ learning by providing chances in writing patterns, their improvement, and their structures to show the flow of coherent patterns. There were also disparities in AI tool use, which included the possibility of coming up with content not being referred to as human-like, failure to recognize creativity, and capacity to cheat. This research can help future researchers and instructors explore how to use AI tools for writing effectively, enhancing the strengths and diminishing the possible weaknesses.

Keywords:

Artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, ESL writing, Grammarly, QuillBot

References

Aladini, D. A. (2023). AI applications impact on improving EFL university academic writing skills and their logical thinking. Educational Science, (2)31, 44–25. https://doi.org/10.21608/ssj.2023.320166

Ali, J. K. M. (2023). Benefits and challenges of using ChatGPT: An exploratory study on English language program. University of Bisha Journal for Humanities, 2(2), 629–641.

Ali, J. K. M., Shamsan, M. A. A., Hezam, T. A., & Mohammed, A. A. (2023). Impact of ChatGPT on learning motivation: Teachers and students’ voices. Journal of English Studies in Arabia Felix, 2(1), 41–49. https://doi.org/10.56540/jesaf.v2i1.51

Aljabr, F. (2023). Gauging the Saudi EFL learners’ awareness and attitudes towards ChatGPT. Information Sciences Letters, 12(11), 3101–3109. https://digitalcommons.aaru.edu.jo/isl/vol12/iss11/20/

Allehyani, S. H., & Algamdi, M. A. (2023). Digital competencies: Early childhood teachers’ beliefs and perceptions of ChatGPT application in teaching English as a second language (ESL). International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 22(11), 343–363. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.22.11.18

Baidoo-Anu, D., & Ansah, L. O. (2023). Education in the era of generative artificial intelligence (AI): Understanding the potential benefits of ChatGPT in promoting teaching and learning. Journal of AI, 7(1), 52–62. https://doi.org/10.61969/jai.1337500

Barrot, J. S. (2023). Using ChatGPT for second language writing: Pitfalls and potentials. Assessing Writing, 57, 100745, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asw.2023.100745

Boughaba, B., Mimoune, K., & Bounar, F. (2022). Teachers’ and students’ attitudes towards using Grammarly application in enhancing EFL learners’ writing [Master’s thesis, University of Jijel, Algeria]. Dépôt Institutionnel. http://dspace.univ-jijel.dz:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/11813

Cowling, M., Crawford, J., Allen, K.-A., & Wehmeyer, M. (2023). Using leadership to leverage ChatGPT and artificial intelligence for undergraduate and postgraduate research supervision. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 39(4), 89–103. https://doi.org/10.14742/ajet.8598

Dahri, N. A., Yahaya, N., Al-Rahmi, W. M., Aldraiweesh, A., Alturki, U., Almutairy, S., Shutaleva, A., & Soomro, R. B. (2024). Extended TAM-based acceptance of AI-Powered ChatGPT for supporting metacognitive self-regulated learning in education: A mixed-methods study. Heliyon, 10(8), 1–21. https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(24)05348-9

Daroina, A., Febriani, W. E., Aulianisa, A., & Fadlia, W. A. (2022). Systematic literature review: Grammarly as a medium for analysing grammar for university students. Proceedings of Conference on English Language Teaching 2022 (pp. 276–289). Universitas Islam Negeri Prof. K.H. Saifuddin Zuhri Purwokerto. https://ouci.dntb.gov.ua/en/works/9JNW1nE9/

Escalante, J., Pack, A., & Barrett, A. (2023). AI-generated feedback on writing: insights into efficacy and ENL student preference. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 20(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-023-00425-2

Firaina, R., & Sulisworo, D. (2023). Exploring the usage of ChatGPT in higher education: Frequency and impact on productivity. Buletin Edukasi Indonesia, 2(01), 39–46. https://doi.org/10.56741/bei.v2i01.310

Fitria, T. N. (2021). Grammarly as AI-powered English writing assistant: Students’ alternative for writing English. Metathesis: Journal of English Language, Literature, and Teaching, 5(1), 65–78. https://doi.org/10.31002/metathesis.v5i1.3519

Fitria, T. N. (2023). Artificial intelligence (AI) technology in OpenAI ChatGPT application: A review of ChatGPT in writing English essay. ELT Forum: Journal of English Language Teaching, 12(1), 44–58. https://doi.org/10.15294/elt.v12i1.64069

Gao, C. A., Howard, F. M., Markov, N. S., Dyer, E. C., Ramesh, S., Luo, Y., & Pearson, A. T. (2022). Comparing scientific abstracts generated by ChatGPT to original abstracts using an artificial intelligence output detector, plagiarism detector, and blinded human reviewers. npj Digital Medicine, 6. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-023-00819-6

Gilroy-Ware, M. (2020). After the fact: The truth about fake news. Repeater Books.

Ginting, R. S., & Fithriani, R. (2022). Peer and automated writing evaluation (AWE): Indonesian EFL college students’ preference for essay evaluation. LLT Journal: A Journal on Language and Language Teaching, 25(2), 461–473. https://doi.org/10.24071/llt.v25i2.4879

Hawanti, S., & Zubaydulloevna, K. M. (2023). AI chatbot-based learning: alleviating students’ anxiety in English writing classroom. Bulletin of Social Informatics Theory and Application, 7(2), 182–192. https://doi.org/10.31763/businta.v7i2.659

Mahapatra, S. (2024). Impact of ChatGPT on ESL students’ academic writing skills: A mixed methods intervention study. Smart Learning Environments, 11(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-024-00295-9

Malik, A. R., Pratiwi, Y., Andajani, K., Numertayasa, I. W., Suharti, S., & Darwis, A. (2023). Exploring artificial intelligence in academic essay: Higher education student’s perspective. International Journal of Educational Research Open, 5, 100296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2023.100296

Nazari, N., Shabbir, M. S., & Setiawan, R. (2021). Application of artificial intelligence powered digital writing assistant in higher education: Randomized controlled trial. Heliyon, 7(5), 7(5), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07014

Nelson, C. A., Pérez-Chada, L. M., Creadore, A., Li, S. J., Lo, K., Manjaly, P., Pournamdari, A. B., Tkachenko, E., Barbieri, J. S., & Ko, J. M. (2020). Patient perspectives on using artificial intelligence for skin cancer screening: A qualitative study. JAMA Dermatology, 156(5), 501–512. http://doi.org/10.1001/jamadermatol.2019.5014

Noguerol, T. M., Paulano-Godino, F., Martín-Valdivia, M. T., Menias, C. O., & Luna, A. (2019). Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis of artificial intelligence and machine learning applications in radiology. Journal of the American College of Radiology, 16(9), 1239–1247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacr.2019.05.047

Nurmayanti, N., & Suryadi, S. (2023). Using QuillBot effectively improves writing for English Education Study Program students. Jurnal Teknologi Pendidikan: Jurnal Penelitian dan Pengembangan Pembelajaran, 8(1), 32–40. https://doi.org/10.33394/jtp.v8i1.6392

Parra G, L., & Calero S, X. (2019). Automated writing evaluation tools in the improvement of writing skills. International Journal of Instruction, 12(2), 209–226. https://www.e-iji.net/dosyalar/iji_2019_2_14.pdf

Prentice, F. M., & Kinden, C. E. (2018). Paraphrasing tools, language translation tools and plagiarism: An exploratory study. International Journal for Educational Integrity, 14(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40979-018-0036-7

Rad, H. S., Alipour, R., & Jafarpour, A. (2023). Using artificial intelligence to foster students’ writing feedback literacy, engagement, and outcome: A case of Wordtune application. Interactive Learning Environments, 32(10), 5020–5040. https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2023.2208170

Rex, D. K., Mori, Y., Sharma, P., Lahr, R. E., Vemulapalli, K. C., & Hassan, C. (2022). A high-detecting endoscopist assessed the strengths and weaknesses of an artificial intelligence polyp detection program. Gastroenterology, 163(2), 354–358. https://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(22)00355-9/fulltext

Song, C., & Song, Y. (2023). Enhancing academic writing skills and motivation: Assessing the efficacy of ChatGPT in AI-assisted language learning for EFL students. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1260843. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1260843

Su, Y., Lin, Y., & Lai, C. (2023). Collaborating with ChatGPT in argumentative writing classrooms. Assessing Writing, 57, 100752. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asw.2023.100752

Taecharungroj, V. (2023). “What can ChatGPT do?” Analyzing early reactions to the innovative AI chatbot on Twitter. Big Data and Cognitive Computing, 7(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.3390/bdcc7010035

Tai, A. M. Y., Meyer, M., Varidel, M., Prodan, A., Vogel, M., Iorfino, F., & Krausz, R. M. (2023). Exploring the potential and limitations of ChatGPT for academic peer-reviewed writing: Addressing linguistic injustice and ethical concerns. Journal of Academic Language and Learning, 17(1), 16–30. https://journal.aall.org.au/index.php/jall/article/view/903

Vargas-Murillo, A. R., Pari-Bedoya, I. N. M. d. l. A., & Guevara-Soto, F. d. J. (2023). The ethics of AI-assisted learning: A systematic literature review on the impacts of ChatGPT usage in education. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 22(7), 122–135. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.22.7.7

Yan, D. (2023). Impact of ChatGPT on learners in a L2 writing practicum: An exploratory investigation. Education and Information Technologies, 28(11), 13943–13967. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-023-11742-4

Zhao, X. (2023). Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) technology for English writing: Introducing Wordtune as a digital writing assistant for EFL writers. RELC Journal, 54(3), 890–894. https://doi.org/10.1177/00336882221094089

Zia, F., Sarfraz, S., & Mufti, N. (2019). Students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of formative assessment and feedback for improvement of the English writing composition skills: A case study of secondary level ESL students of private schools in Lahore, Pakistan. Journal of Education and Practice, 10(6), 7–13. https://doi.org/10.7176/JEP/10-6-02

Downloads

Published

2024-11-30

Article Statistics

689 Views
257 Downloads

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Examining the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) tools on Saudi Arabian ESL students’ writing skills. (2024). Erudita: Journal of English Language Teaching, 4(2), 102–115. https://doi.org/10.28918/erudita.v4i2.8784