Chalim Journal of Teaching and Learning
Vol. 6 No. 1 (2026): Teaching and Learning

Beyond the Teacher’s Red Pen: The Comparative Efficacy of AI-Based and Manual Corrective Feedback on EFL Students' Grammatical Accuracy

Salamun (universitas Kiai Abdulllah Faqih Gresik, Indonesia)
Dwi Julianto (Universitas Kutai Kartanegara Tenggarong, Indonesia)
Muhammad Lukman Adha (Universitas Kutai Kartanegara Tenggarong, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Jun 2026

Abstract

Achieving grammatical accuracy in academic writing remains a persistent challenge for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students, often constrained by the logistical limitations and delayed nature of traditional instructor-led feedback. While Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers a potential solution, empirical evidence comparing its instructional efficiency against human correction remains inconclusive. This study aims to investigate the comparative efficacy of AI-based Automated Corrective Feedback (ACF) versus traditional Manual Corrective Feedback (MCF) in improving grammatical accuracy. Employing a quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent pretest-posttest control group, the research involved 60 undergraduate students at Universitas Kiai Abdullah Faqih, Indonesia. Participants were assigned to an Experimental Group utilizing Grammarly (N=30) and a Control Group receiving coded manual feedback (N=30) over a 12-week intervention. Grammatical accuracy was measured using the Error-Free T-unit ratio. The Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) results revealed that while both modalities yielded improvements, the AI-assisted group (M=84.20) significantly outperformed the manual feedback group (M=73.50) with a large effect size (p < .001, partial eta squared = .425). These findings suggest that the immediacy and non-judgmental nature of AI feedback accelerate the mastery of surface-level grammar. The study advocates for a 'Hybrid Intelligence' model, where educators leverage AI to handle mechanical corrections, thereby allowing human instruction to focus on higher-order writing skills

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Journal Info

Abbrev

cjotl

Publisher

Subject

Education Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

Chalim Teaching and Learning Journal multi-disciplinary, peer-refereed journal, the scope of this journal is in learning and instruction area which provides a platform for the publication of the most advanced scientific researches in the areas of learning, development, instruction and teaching. The ...