Chatting Up English: How AI is Changing the Game for Students

The world is buzzing with new language tools, like generative AI. These tools have a lot of potential for English language learners (ELL). Many believe that AI could revolutionize the way ELLs tackle their writing assignments. Recently, some research on the impact of AI on ELLs focused on how motivated students were when using AI tools to write academic papers. In this study, over 200 participants were involved, who had a semester of using an AI chatbot for business English writing. The study used several elements of educational research to understand how EFL students view AI in learning English. These elements included looking into how students were motivatedand their views on technology. What did the study uncover? Well, the results highlighted two key findings. First, the study found that many students were inspired to use AI in learning English when they saw it could help them perform better. And second, the motivation level of the students was very important in deciding how much they actually used AI in learning. It's also interesting that the study delved into how motivation played a significant role in bridging the gap between the idea of using AI for writing and actually using it. It's as if this motivation was a bridge that took the students from their initial thoughts to taking real action. In a world where AI is becoming more and more common in education, it's important to understand how students feel about it. This study highlights the importance of motivation in using AI for learning English.