An investigation into EFL Students’ Perceptions of AI-Assisted Academic Writing tools
Keywords:
AI writing tools, academic writing, EFL students, perceptions, ChatGPT, GrammarlyAbstract
The fast advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has made a considerable impact on language acquisition, especially within the field of academic writing. EFL students are increasingly utilizing AI-assisted writing tools, including ChatGPT and Grammarly, to enhance their writing abilities. This investigation examines the perspectives of EFL university students regarding the utilization of AI-assisted writing tools in academic contexts. A mixed-methods methodology was adopted, incorporating both questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with undergraduate EFL students. The results indicate that the majority of students view AI tools as beneficial for improving grammatical accuracy, vocabulary implementation, and the organizing of their ideas. However, concerns related to overuse dependence, reduced critical thinking skills, and academic reliability were also observed. Consequently, the study highlights the necessity of a guided integration of AI tools within academic writing instruction to maximize advantages while minimizing possible risks.
References
Alkamel, M. A. A. (2024). Utilizing ChatGPT as an AI tool to enhance EFL students’ academic writing skills. Heliyon, 10(5), e26519. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26519
Cook, V. (2001). Using the first language in the classroom. Canadian Modern Language Review, 57(3), 402–423. https://doi.org/10.3138/cmlr.57.3.402
Debreli, E., & Oyman, N. (2016). Students’ preferences on the use of mother tongue in English as a foreign language classroom: Is it the time to re-examine English-only policies? English Language Teaching, 9(1), 148–162. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v9n1p148
Dizon, G. (2024). A systematic review of Grammarly use in L2 English writing research. Cogent Education, 11(1), 2397882. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2024.2397882
Hyland, K. (2004). Second language writing. Cambridge University Press.
Littlewood, W., & Yu, B. (2011). First language and target language in the foreign language classroom. Language Teaching, 44(1), 64–77. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444809990310
Lund, B. D., Wang, T., Mannuru, N. R., Nie, B., Shimray, S., & Wang, Z. (2023). ChatGPT and a new academic reality: Artificial intelligence-written research papers and the ethics of the large language models in scholarly publishing. Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 74(5), 570–581. https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.24750
Macaro, E. (2005). Codeswitching in the L2 classroom: A communication and learning strategy. In E. Llurda (Ed.), Non-native language teachers: Perceptions, challenges and contributions to the profession (pp. 63–84). Springer.
Nelson, A. S. (2024). Students’ perceptions of generative AI use in academic writing and academic integrity in higher education. In Proceedings of the ICT for Language Learning Conference.
Putri, I. C. (2025). Students’ perceptions of ChatGPT use in EFL writing classrooms. ELTIN Journal, 13(1), 45–56.
Ranalli, J. (2021). L2 student engagement with automated feedback on writing: Potential for learning and issues of trust. System, 100, 102537. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2021.102537
Schweers, C. W. (1999). Using L1 in the L2 classroom. English Teaching Forum, 37(2), 6–13.
UNESCO. (2023). Guidance for generative AI in education and research. UNESCO Publishing. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/
Ali, T. M. A., Ahmed, A. A., & Alsharif, A. (2024). Improving the Educational Process in Technical and Vocational Education Using Artificial Intelligence: Innovative Strategies and Tools. المجلة الأفروآسيوية للبحث العلمي (AAJSR), 796-707.
Alsharif, A., Agaal, A., Ahmed, A. A., Khaleel, M., Ali, T. M. A., & Qasim, K. (2025). The Role of Artificial Intelligence Tools in Enhancing Sustainability in Scientific Research. The Open European Journal of Engineering and Scientific Research (OEJESR), 24-39.


