e-Journal of ELTS (English Language Teaching Society)
Vol. 14 No. 02 (2026)

Friend or Foe? EFL Students’ Perceptions of Artificial Intelligence in Writing Classes

Yansen Robert Kaluti Yansen (Tadulako University)
Anjar Kusuma Dewi (Tadulako University)
Andi Patmasari (Tadulako University)
Nadrun Nadrun (Tadulako University)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Aug 2026

Abstract

This study investigated students’ perceptions of the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in writing classes at Tadulako University. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining a questionnaire with 30 students and semi-structured interviews with four participants. The questionnaire consisted of 32 items organized into six dimensions: perceived usefulness, perceived effectiveness, motivation, attitudes, challenges, and responsible use of AI. The findings revealed that students generally hold positive perceptions of AI, particularly regarding idea generation (M=4.20), process support (M=4.17), and vocabulary assistance (M=4.13). Grammar correction was identified as the most effective function of AI (M=3.97). Motivational effects were moderate, with the strongest influence on task completion (M=3.77). Students demonstrated cautious but generally positive attitudes, with more neutrality toward formal AI integration in the curriculum. Prominent challenges included concerns about over-reliance, information inaccuracy, and reliability. Encouragingly, students showed critical and ethical engagement with AI, as evidenced by high scores for information verification (M=4.07) and critical evaluation (M=4.10). These findings suggest that students perceive AI as a conditionally beneficial tool for writing support, provided it is used critically and responsibly.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

elts

Publisher

Subject

Education Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

e-Journal of ELTS (English Language Teaching Society) is an electronic open-access journal that aims to publish the latest research results in the area of English education from academicians, professionals, and other practitioners at all levels of English education. The journal coverage includes the ...