English-majored students’ perceptions of using ChatGPT in English writing

In the current 4.0 era, AI technology is increasingly developing to support people. ChatGPT is researched and produced by OpenAI, which was launched at the end of 2022. ChatGPT emerged as a phenomenon because of the benefits it brings, especially while learning English. This study was conducted to investigate the perceptions of English-majored students when using ChatGPT when writing English. From there, there will be some strategies to use appropriately to improve their skills. This research used mixed methods, quantitative and qualitative methods. A 25-item questionnaire was used to investigate the perceptions and strategies of English-majored students for using ChatGPT in improving their English writing skills. The research sample was 100 English Language students at a private university in the Mekong Delta, who have used ChatGPT for at least 3 months. The results showed that students had a completely positive attitude toward the benefits ChatGPT brings, but they were still worried about some limitations of this tool. They also shared the strategies they used for ChatGPT. With an in-depth understanding of students’ perceptions, the researcher concluded that this is a completely useful tool for students when learning to write English. However, teachers need to be responsible for guiding students to use this tool effectively to avoid its negative effects. In particular, through these findings, the researcher hopes that the integration of ChatGPT into the curriculum in Vietnam will be implemented as soon as possible.