An Intervention Study on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in the ESL Classroom: English teacher perspectives on the Effectiveness of ChatGPT for Personalized Language LearningEn

Abstract: The recent release of AI tools for public use allows for the development of novel teaching approaches for goals that often present challenges in the classroom, such as the need for personalized learning materials. The current study enlists a four-week ChatGPT-based personalized learning intervention in tandem with a teacher questionnaire and interviews in two upper-secondary schools in Southern Sweden to investigate English teacher perceptions of the benefits and challenges of using AI for personalized language learning. In addition, the intervention investigates the potential effectiveness of personalized learning assignments using ChatGPT on the development of students’ grammar abilities in a specific, local classroom context to both address a local need at the school in question and to serve as a proof of concept for more broad-based, future research on the use of these tools for this purpose. The questionnaire revealed that teachers initially had some concerns regarding the accuracy, reliability, and practical implementation of such tools. However, the intervention was found to significantly reduce grammar errors in student writing, and in follow-up interviews, teachers reported feeling more receptive to such approaches after interacting with the tools and seeing the beneficial results. These findings demonstrate that teachers may be hesitant to implement AI tools, which underscores the importance of training and first-hand use for promoting their successful adoption into pedagogical practices. In addition, the findings suggest that AI-based tools for personalized language learning may also be successful in a broader educational context. Finally, certain limitations, such as the small sample size, are acknowledged which emphasizes that further research is necessary to acquire a more comprehensive understanding of personalized learning using AI-based tools like ChatGPT.