EFL LEARNERS’ EXPERIENCES IN PRACTICING ENGLISH CONVERSATION THROUGH AI-GENERATED CHARACTERS ON CHATGPT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51878/educational.v6i4.15840Keywords:
AI-Generated Characters, Chatgpt, English Conversation, EFL LearnersAbstract
Limited opportunities for authentic conversational practice outside the classroom and high speaking anxiety remain significant barriers for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. Despite the rapid growth of conversational artificial intelligence (AI), empirical investigations into learners' lived experiences when interacting with customized virtual interlocutors remain scarce. This study explored EFL learners' experiences in practicing English conversation through interactions with AI-generated characters on ChatGPT. Employing a qualitative case study design, this research involved seven EFL undergraduate students from the English Education Program at Institut Pendidikan Indonesia Garut selected through purposive sampling. Data were accumulated through expert-validated semi-structured interviews and corroborated by digital chat history documentation, which were subsequently analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis framework. The findings identified three overarching themes: practical use, benefits, and challenges. In terms of practical use, participants purposefully customized conversational personas and varied interaction formats, although engagement with advanced prompt settings remained minimal. The most prominent benefits were marked reductions in speaking anxiety, increased communicative confidence, vocabulary acquisition, and autonomous practice accessibility. Meanwhile, the observed challenges included premature AI turn-taking interruptions, vocabulary deficits on unfamiliar topics, and localized motivational decline. This study concludes that AI-generated characters serve as a meaningful low-pressure preparatory environment for authentic EFL speaking practice.
ABSTRAK
Keterbatasan kesempatan praktik percakapan autentik di luar kelas dan tingginya kecemasan berbicara masih menjadi hambatan utama bagi pembelajar bahasa Inggris sebagai bahasa asing (EFL). Meskipun pemanfaatan kecerdasan buatan (AI) berkembang pesat, kajian mendalam mengenai pengalaman nyata pembelajar saat berinteraksi dengan karakter berbasis AI masih terbatas. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengeksplorasi pengalaman pelajar EFL dalam berlatih percakapan bahasa Inggris melalui interaksi dengan AI-generated characters pada platform ChatGPT. Menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan desain studi kasus, penelitian ini melibatkan tujuh pelajar EFL dari Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris di Institut Pendidikan Indonesia Garut yang dipilih melalui teknik purposive sampling. Data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara semi-terstruktur yang telah divalidasi ahli dan didukung oleh dokumentasi riwayat percakapan digital, kemudian dianalisis menggunakan analisis tematik model Braun dan Clarke. Hasil penelitian mengidentifikasi tiga tema utama: penggunaan praktis, manfaat, dan tantangan. Dari segi penggunaan praktis, partisipan menetapkan persona karakter secara aktif dan memvariasikan format percakapan, meskipun pemanfaatan fitur konfigurasi tingkat lanjut masih terbatas. Manfaat utama yang dirasakan meliputi penurunan kecemasan berbicara, peningkatan kepercayaan diri, perluasan kosakata, serta fleksibilitas akses latihan mandiri. Adapun tantangan yang dihadapi mencakup respons prematur sistem AI, kendala kosakata pada topik yang belum dikuasai, serta penurunan motivasi yang bersifat individual. Penelitian ini menyimpulkan bahwa interaksi dengan AI-generated characters efektif berfungsi sebagai media latihan percakapan awal yang aman dan bebas tekanan sosial bagi pembelajar EFL.
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