STATE BANK OF VIETNAM BANKING ACADEMY OF VIETNAM FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES ---------------------- GRADUATION THESIS TOPIC: AN INVESTIGATION INTO EFL LEARNERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF UTILIZING AI-POWERED TOOLS IN LEARNING WRITING SKILLS - A CASE STUDY AT THE BANKING ACADEMY OF VIETNAM Student : Nguyễn Việt Trinh Class : K23ATCA Academic year : 2020 - 2024 Student ID : 23A7510145 Supervisor : Ms. Nguyễn Thị Minh Hằng (MBA) Hanoi, May 2024 DECLARATIONS I hereby declare that the graduation thesis entitled “An investigation into EFL learners’ perceptions of utilizing AI-powered tools in learning writing skills - a case study at the Banking Academy of Vietnam” is my own work under the supervision of Ms. Nguyễn Thị Minh Hằng. All the data used for analysis completely belongs to my research.
The reference materials are clearly identified and cited in accordance with the regulations. Hanoi, May 2024 Signature Nguyễn Việt Trinh I ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Ms. Nguyễn Thị Minh Hằng, who has always guided and supported me throughout the research process. Her valuable instructions and unwavering support play an indispensable role in shaping the direction of this study, and I am incredibly grateful for the time and effort she invested in helping me.
I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to my family and friends, who have always been by my side and encouraged me during my graduation thesis. Their companionship and support are the biggest motivations to help me overcome difficult times and complete my research project. Finally, I want to thank all of the students participating in the survey and the interview. The information they provided is a valuable resource for this research to be completed.
Due to my limited practical experience, this study cannot avoid shortcomings. I would appreciate any constructive comments or feedback that might help refine my understanding and make this topic even more comprehensive. Sincerely, Nguyễn Việt Trinh II TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATIONS .ii TABLE OF CONTENTS. iii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .vi LIST OF TABLES .vii LIST OF FIGURES.
Background of the study. Significance of the study. Objectives of the study. Scope and limitations of the study.
Structure of the study. EFL learners and Writing skills. Importance of writing skills for EFL learners. Difficulties encountered by EFL learners in learning writing skills.
AI-powered tools. Overview of Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI-powered tools for writing. Technology acceptance model (TAM).
Research locale and population. Data collecting procedure. Phase 1: Quantitative research. Phase 2: Qualitative research.
Data processing and analysis. 25 CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION. Scale reliability testing. AI-powered tools used by EFL learners in learning writing skills.
EFL learners’ perceived ease of using AI-powered tools in learning writing skills. EFL learners’ perceived usefulness of AI-powered tools in learning writing skills. EFL learners’ attitudes toward using AI-powered tools in learning writing skills. EFL learners’ behavioral intentions toward using AI-powered tools in learning writing skills.
EFL learners’ challenges in using AI-powered tools for learning writing skills. AI-powered tools used by EFL learners in learning writing skills. EFL learners’ perceived ease of using AI-powered tools in learning writing skills. EFL learners’ perceived usefulness of AI-powered tools in learning writing skills.
EFL learners’ attitudes toward using AI-powered tools in learning writing skills. EFL learners’ challenges in using AI-powered tools for learning writing skills. 47 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS. Recommendations for learners and educators.
Recommendations for further studies. 54 APPENDIX 1: THE QUESTIONNAIRE. 60 APPENDIX 2: INTERVIEW QUESTIONS. 67 V LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Meaning EFL English as a Foreign Language AI Artificial Intelligence TAM Technology Acceptance Model PEU Perceived Ease of Use PU Perceived Usefulness ATU Attitude Toward Using BI Behavioral Intention C Challenge SPSS Statistical Product and Service Solutions VI LIST OF TABLES Table Page Table 3.1: Interpretation of the mean score 24 Table 4.1: Respondent demographics (N = 152) 26 Table 4.2: Reliability analysis of perceived ease of use (PEU) 27 Table 4.3: Reliability analysis of perceived usefulness (PU) 28 Table 4.4: Reliability analysis of attitude toward using (ATU) 29 Table 4.5: Reliability analysis of behavioral intention (BI) 30 Table 4.6: Reliability analysis of challenge in using (C) 30 Table 4.7: Summary of descriptive statistics 31 Table 4.8: EFL learners’ perceived ease of using AI-powered tools in 36 learning writing skills Table 4.9: EFL learners’ perceived usefulness of AI-powered tools in 37 learning writing skills Table 4.10: EFL learners’ attitudes toward using AI-powered tools in 39 learning writing skills Table 4.11: EFL learners’ behavioral intentions toward using AI-powered 40 tools in learning writing skills Table 4.12: EFL learners’ challenges in using AI-powered tools for learning 41 writing skills VII LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page Figure 2.1: Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) (Davis et al.1: Quantitative data collection procedure 21 Figure 3.2: Qualitative data collection procedure 22 Figure 4.1: AI-powered tools used by students in learning writing skills 34 Figure 4.2: AI-powered tools ranked by effectiveness 35 VIII ABSTRACT This study aims to explore EFL learners' perceptions of utilizing AI-powered tools in learning writing skills.
Both questionnaires and interviews are employed to collect quantitative and qualitative data for analysis. A total of 152 students at the Banking Academy of Vietnam completed the survey, and five of them volunteered to participate in the online interviews via Messenger. The research findings revealed that a large number of students have positive views about taking advantage of AI-powered tools to improve their writing abilities. Despite challenges such as internet disconnection, ethical concerns, and technology dependence, most students hold a favorable opinion of using AI tools.
They valued the benefits of these tools and showed a positive attitude towards leveraging them in English writing learning, as well as the future development of AI applications. Furthermore, many of them also expressed their intention to continue making use of them to improve their writing abilities. In addition, some useful recommendations are proposed for educators and learners, including evaluating feedback from AI, combining multiple tools, setting clear goals and structured plans, integrating AI with traditional methods, exchanging experiences with peers, and offering advice. By embracing these recommendations, educators and learners can overcome difficulties and optimize the effectiveness of using AI tools for learning writing skills.
INTRODUCTION This chapter presents an overview of the study, including the overall context of the study, the purpose of the study, the research questions, its significance, as well as the scope and limitations of the research. Background of the study The recent surge of AI technology has brought about significant changes in education, including teaching and learning English, the most popular language in the world. This groundbreaking technology isn't just accelerating language acquisition; it's also enriching the learning experience for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. Integrating AI into English language learning is an inevitable trend, not only enhancing the quality of education but also creating favorable conditions for learners to conquer this international language (Wang, 2021).
In the trend of developing AI technologies in language learning, many AI- powered tools have been created to support EFL learners in the process of learning writing skills. These tools offer personalized feedback and assistance, allowing learners to practice writing at their own pace and receive instant guidance. Furthermore, EFL learners also highlight the convenience and accessibility of AI-powered tools, which allow them to practice writing at any time and from anywhere (Su et al. Thus, it cannot be denied that the use of AI-powered tools in learning writing is becoming increasingly widespread.
As one of the leading universities in Vietnam, Banking Academy also offers English modules to equip students with essential foreign language skills for future careers. In line with the general trend, the use of AI-powered tools to support English language learning, particularly for writing skills, has also become popular in the Banking Academy. Therefore, understanding how students perceive and use these AI tools is very important to find appropriate teaching and learning methods, enhancing the quality of training as well as improving students' abilities. 1 All of the preceding points have been the driving force behind this study, which is titled "An investigation into EFL learners’ perceptions of utilizing AI-powered tools in learning writing skills - a case study at the Banking Academy of Vietnam.
Significance of the study By understanding the perceived utilization of AI-powered tools, the study can highlight how AI tools can potentially assist EFL learners in learning writing and inform strategies for maximizing their effectiveness in developing writing abilities. This may involve identifying specific writing tasks where AI tools are most beneficial and developing guidelines for their responsible use. Besides, instructors can offer some advice and assistance to help learners overcome barriers that hinder their optimal use. In addition, the findings can guide educators in developing appropriate teaching methods that leverage AI tools alongside traditional approaches.
This may involve creating blended learning environments that combine AI-powered feedback with teacher guidance and peer interaction. Furthermore, since this study explores the use of AI writing tools without educators’ guidance, it also encourages the practice of using AI tools as a useful self-learning method for EFL learners. Objectives of the study The study aims to figure out how EFL learners perceive the utilization of AI- powered tools in learning writing skills as well as the challenges that hinder them from taking advantage of these tools. Some suggestions would be proposed to increase the effectiveness of making use of AI tools in improving writing skills.
Furthermore, the study is conducted in the hope of assisting educators and learners in identifying best practices for utilizing AI tools to maximize their benefits for learners. Research questions In order to shed light on the goal of the study, two questions are addressed as follows: 1. How do EFL learners at the Banking Academy of Vietnam perceive the utilization of AI-powered tools in learning writing skills? 2. What challenges do EFL learners at the Banking Academy encounter in utilizing AI-powered tools for learning writing skills? 1.
Scope and limitations of the study The research primarily focuses on exploring how EFL learners at the Banking Academy of Vietnam perceive the use of AI tools in learning writing as well as the challenges they have encountered when utilizing these tools. The students of different years taking English writing classes at the Banking Academy were invited to take part in the research and provide their personal views. The study was carried out from April 8 to April 24, 2024. The study has some limitations.
First, due to time constraints, the study was only conducted within the Banking Academy, so it may not be generalizable to the large population of EFL learners. Second, the study only explores EFL learners' perceptions at a specific point in time. Further studies would be needed to understand how perceptions and usage patterns change over time. Third, because the research was carried out at the end of the semester, many students were busy studying for exams and doing projects, so few students could spend time participating in interviews.
Consequently, qualitative methods may not be optimally utilized. Structure of the study The thesis includes five chapters, as follows: 3 Chapter 1. Introduction: This chapter sets the stage for the thesis writing, providing the background of the study, the purpose of the study, the research questions, its significance, as well as the scope and limitations of the research. Literature Review: This chapter provides an overview of theories that are relevant to EFL learners and Writing skills, AI-powered tools, the Technology Acceptance Model as well as the previously published works on the topic.
Methodology: This chapter typically presents the roadmap for conducting the research, including the research setting, research methods, research instruments, data collection procedure and data analysis. Findings and Discussion: This chapter aims to present the results of the investigation and analyze their meaning. It also includes a discussion of the results obtained.