Investigating the impact of ChatGPT on EFL student engagement, autonomy, and writing skills

This study examines the integration of ChatGPT, an AI-powered language model, into English as a Foreign Language (EFL) writing instruction for young learners and investigates its impact on student engagement, learner autonomy, and writing performance. Conducted over a ten-week period in a private primary school in Türkiye, the research involved twenty-four fourth-grade students who participated in a structured ChatGPT-supported writing program. Using a mixed-methods, quasi-experimental design, data were collected through pre- and post-test writing tasks, engagement and autonomy questionnaires, ChatGPT perception items, and systematic classroom observations. The findings indicate that ChatGPT meaningfully enhanced students' behavioral and emotional engagement, as learners demonstrated increased willingness to participate in writing tasks, sustained attention during lessons, and greater enthusiasm for drafting and revising their texts. Autonomy also developed progressively, with students taking more initiative in planning ideas, revising their own sentences, and using ChatGPT strategically for vocabulary support and idea generation. Writing performance improved notably in areas such as paragraph structure, coherence, topic development, and supporting details, although gains in mechanics succh as grammar, punctuation, and spelling remained minimal, reflecting the instructional focus on organization rather than linguistic accuracy. Students expressed highly positive perceptions of ChatGPT, viewing it as a helpful, motivating, and easy-to-use tool that reduced writing anxiety and supported their confidence. Observation data further revealed that learners interacted collaboratively around the tool and adapted AI-generated suggestions into their own language. Overall, the study demonstrates that when integrated thoughtfully with teacher scaffolding, ChatGPT can serve as an effective pedagogical support in primary EFL writing classrooms, enhancing engagement, fostering emerging autonomy, and improving the overall quality of students' written output.