Causes of English-majored Students' Anxiety in English Speaking: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

"Amidst the rising importance of English as a Lingua Franca, this study is conducted with the aims of investigating English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students' perceptions and perceived practices regarding the use of ChatGPT for writing English argumentative essay, thereby bridge the gap in understanding the role of AI technologies in enhancing language learning outcomes. The study focused on eight (8) aspects for developing writing skills, including (1) Vocabulary, (2) Grammar, (3) Idea generation, (4) Organization, (5) Translation, (6) Writing style, (7) Plagiarism management, (8) Mechanics of writing, for which EFL students use ChatGPT to improve their English argumentative essay writing skills during the course Reading - Writing B2.2. A ninteytwo-item questionnaire was administered to investigate the perceptions and perceived practices of using ChatGPT for writing English argumentative essays. The study sample consists of 100 students who have taken the Reading-Writing B2.2 course. The findings revealed that students a positive attitude toward the use of ChatGPT for their argumentative English essays writing. There found a negative correlation between the extent of perception impacts on students’ practices, meaning that when students’ perception of using ChatGPT increases, their engagement tends to reduce. Moreover, the result showed that while practices vary significantly across groups, perceptions remain relatively consistent among students. The insights from this study stand to significantly advance our understanding of the role of AI tools like ChatGPT in supporting English argumentative essay writing among EFL students. By uncovering students' perceptions and perceived practices regarding the use of ChatGPT, this research offers valuable insights for educators. With a deeper understanding of student attitudes and behaviors, teachers can tailor their teaching approaches to better support learners, fostering more effective language learning environments. Keywords: ChatGPT, English argumentative writing skills, EFL students, perceptions, practices, AI"