The Impact of ChatGPT in Developing Saudi EFL Learners' Literature Appreciation

Abstract

Teaching foreign language learners literature appreciation can be a tricky task as it follows from a deep and clear understanding of literature as the first step. This study examines whether and how an AI tool (ChatGPT) can contribute to the literature appreciation skills of EFL learners. The study was conducted with a sample of 28 female EFL learners at Prince Sattam Bin Abdelaziz University (PSBAU), Saudi Arabia in the first semester of 2023 spanning a ChatGPT- based intervention period of three weeks. Results indicated that learners’ literature appreciation scores improved from 17.96 before the intervention to 22.21 afterwards with a probability value which was a statistically significant change. The parameters on which the improvement was observed were the ability to identify and interpret literary themes, symbols, and character development using the chatbot. The study employed a unique method of gathering real-time experiential data from the participants by encouraging them to share their ChatGPT interaction experiences after each interventional session. The participants reported gains over conventional learning including cоntext and nuances, general language proficiency by helping with error correction, cohesion, and coherence, identifying themes, motifs, symbolism, and character development, exposure to world literatures, adjustment to learners’ proficiency levels, cultural and historical information, and freedom to ask questions. Based on these results, the study highly recommends the integration of ChatGPT into the EFL classroom but with appropriate investment in educating the learners on the ethics of AI use as was done by the researcher here.