Fostering English Grammatical Knowledge through Self-Directed Learning and ChatGPT: Evidence from EFL Students

Main Article Content

Kritsana Su-ya-ai

Abstract

This study investigated the effectiveness of integrating self-directed learning (SDL) activities with ChatGPT to enhance English grammatical knowledge, as well as students’ satisfaction with this approach, over a ten-week period. The participants were 58 third-year English Education students from Chiang Mai Rajabhat University. Data were gathered through SDL activities supported by ChatGPT, an English grammatical knowledge test, and a satisfaction survey. The analysis employed descriptive statistical techniques and a paired-samples t-test.


The findings indicated a significant improvement in students’ grammatical knowledge after completing the ten-week activities (p < .001, Cohen’s d = 2.52), demonstrating that the integration of SDL and ChatGPT effectively supported both grammatical development and independent learning. Students also reported very high satisfaction with all components of the activities based on SDL and ChatGPT (overall Mean = 4.51). Although a few participants noted minor inaccuracies in ChatGPT’s responses, these did not affect overall perceptions.


These findings suggest that a structured SDL model, combined with real-time AI feedback, can enhance linguistic skills, foster learner autonomy, and promote critical evaluation skills. The integration of clear activities, a comprehensive handbook, and interactive AI support offers a practical and scalable method for technology-assisted language education, providing valuable guidance for future learner-centered instructional innovations.

Article Details

How to Cite
Su-ya-ai, K. . (2026). Fostering English Grammatical Knowledge through Self-Directed Learning and ChatGPT: Evidence from EFL Students. Language and Linguistics, 44(1), 117–147. https://doi.org/10.64731/langling.v44i1.285335
Section
Research Articles

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