THE IMPACT OF AI-POWERED TOOLS (CHAT GPT) ON ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING IN EFL CLASSROOMS: A CASE STUDY IN UZBEKISTAN
Keywords:
AI tools, ChatGPT, EFL, English language learning, Uzbekistan, writing proficiency, motivationAbstract
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence has introduced new paradigms in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) education. This study investigates the impact of AI-powered tools, particularly Chat GPT, on the English language learning outcomes of university-level EFL students in Uzbekistan. Using a mixed-methods approach, 60 students were divided into a control group (traditional instruction) and an experimental group (AI-assisted instruction) over one semester. Pre- and post-test scores, classroom observations, and structured interviews were employed as data collection instruments. The results revealed statistically significant improvements in writing proficiency (p < 0.05) and vocabulary acquisition among the experimental group. Students reported higher levels of motivation and autonomy when using ChatGPT as a learning assistant. However, concerns regarding academic integrity and over-reliance on AI were also identified. These findings suggest that integrating AI tools into EFL classrooms can enhance language learning, provided that clear pedagogical frameworks and ethical guidelines are established.
References
Bender, E. M., Gebru, T., McMillan-Major, A., & Shmitchell, S. (2021). On the dangers of stochastic parrots: Can language models be too big? Proceedings of FAccT 2021, 610–623.
Black, P., & Wiliam, D. (1998). Assessment and classroom learning. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 5(1), 7–74.
Brown, H. D., & Lee, H. (2020). Teaching by principles: An interactive approach to language pedagogy (4th ed.). Pearson Education.
Cotton, D., Cotton, P., & Shipway, J. R. (2023). Chatting and cheating: Ensuring academic integrity in the era of ChatGPT. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 61(2), 228–239.
Dörnyei, Z. (2001). Motivational strategies in the language classroom. Cambridge University Press.
Hasanova, D., & Shadieva, T. (2008). Implementing communicative language teaching in Uzbekistan. Asian EFL Journal, 10(1), 1–14.
Kasneci, E., Sessler, K., Küchemann, S., Bannert, M., Dementieva, D., Fischer, F., & Kasneci, G. (2023). ChatGPT for good? On opportunities and challenges of large language models for education. Learning and Individual Differences, 103, 102274.
Kukulska-Hulme, A., & Shield, L. (2008). An overview of mobile assisted language learning: From content delivery to supported collaboration and interaction. ReCALL, 20(3), 271–289.
Ministry of Education, Republic of Uzbekistan. (2021). Presidential Decree on the Development of Foreign Language Education. Official Gazette of Uzbekistan.
Nation, I. S. P. (2001). Learning vocabulary in another language. Cambridge University Press.
Plonsky, L., & Ziegler, N. (2016). The CALL-SLA interface: Insights from a second-order synthesis. Language Learning & Technology, 20(2), 17–37.
Rudolph, J., Tan, S., & Tan, S. (2023). ChatGPT: Bullshit spewer or the end of traditional assessments in higher education? Journal of Applied Learning and Teaching, 6(1), 342–363.
Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Harvard University Press.
Warschauer, M., & Healey, D. (1998). Computers and language learning: An overview. Language Teaching, 31(2), 57–71.