Indonesian EFL Journal
Vol. 12 No. 1 (2026)

EFL STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF GRAMMARLY FOR GRAMMAR ACCURACY AND INDEPENDENT LEARNING IN THE ERA OF EDUCATION 5.0

Lili Sururi Asipi (English Language Education, Institut Prima Bangsa, Kabupaten Cirebon, Indonesia)
Aldha Williyan (English Language Education, Universitas Siliwangi, Tasikmalaya, Indonesia)
Angga Adi Saputra (English Language Education, Institut Prima Bangsa, Kabupaten Cirebon, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
05 Feb 2026

Abstract

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into English as a Foreign Language (EFL) instruction has reshaped feedback practices in academic writing, particularly through Automated Writing Evaluation (AWE) tools such as Grammarly. Within the Education 5.0 paradigm, AI is expected to support human-centered learning, reflective engagement, and learner autonomy rather than replace teacher mediation. This study explores Indonesian EFL students’ perceptions of Grammarly in supporting grammatical accuracy, independent learning, and writing confidence. Employing a qualitative-dominant research design, data were collected from 100 undergraduate EFL students through a descriptive questionnaire and follow-up semi-structured interviews with three purposively selected participants. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, while qualitative data were examined using reflexive thematic analysis. The findings indicate that students generally perceived Grammarly as easy to use and helpful in identifying grammatical errors, expanding vocabulary, and improving sentence-level accuracy. Grammarly was also perceived to encourage self-checking and reflective revision; however, learner independence was found to be conditional, as many students still relied on teacher guidance for contextual and rhetorical aspects of writing. In addition, positive affective outcomes emerged, including increased confidence and reduced anxiety toward writing tasks. Overall, the study suggests that Grammarly functions as a micro-level linguistic scaffold rather than a comprehensive writing tutor. Its pedagogical value is maximized when integrated within teacher-guided instructional frameworks that promote critical engagement with AI feedback, aligning with the human-centered principles of Education 5.0.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

pub

Publisher

Subject

Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

The scopes of the journal include critical issues of educational practices in primary, secondary and tertiary education as well as in university level surrounding: English Language Pedagogy Language Acquisition Bilingualism and Multilingualism English language Literacy English for Specific Purposes ...