Students’ Self-Reported Use of AI Chatbots in Vocabulary Learning: A Mixed-Methods Study in A Reading Course

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58421/gehu.v5i4.1546

Authors

  • Zakky Yavani UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1823-138X
  • Putri Dhini Apriliani UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon
  • Khomarudin Khomarudin UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon

Keywords:

AI chatbots, Literacy for Academic , Purposes; explanatory , Sequential Mixed Methods, Self-Reported Use, Vocabulary Learning

Abstract

This study examines students’ self-reported integration of AI chatbots into vocabulary learning in the Literacy for Academic Purposes course by reporting on the usage of various vocabulary learning tasks. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was adopted. Quantitative data were collected from 82 third-semester English Education students with an 18-item self-reported questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis in IBM SPSS Statistics version 23. The qualitative phase involved semi-structured interviews with six students and one course lecturer, and the interview data were analyzed using the Braun and Clarke thematic analysis. The quantitative data reported that finding meaning in context, generating the meaning of a word, and reading comprehension were the most regularly used AI chatbots, whereas vocabulary consolidation and vocabulary application were reported the least. The qualitative data reported that the study participants mainly used AI chatbots to aid their comprehension of vocabulary while reading and that the study participants used AI chatbots the least to reinforce vocabulary and to engage in the productive use of language. Joint display analysis indicated that AI chatbot use was task-centered, and qualitative data reported the task-specific use of AI chatbots in vocabulary learning tasks. The findings of the study reported that the use of AI chatbots in vocabulary retrieval should be extended to the use of AI chatbots in vocabulary consolidation, the productive use of language, and the critical use of AI chatbots.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

R. V. Losi, E. Putra, N. Ali, and A. S. Dewi, “Investigating artificial intelligence (AI) as a vocabulary learning tool: Students’ perception to use ChatGPT,” in Proceeding International Conference on Religion, Science and Education, 2024, pp. 561–566.

R. Oktadela, Y. Elida, and S. Ismail, “Improving English vocabulary through artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot application,” J. English Lang. Educ., vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 63–67, 2023.

W. Waziana, W. Andewi, T. Hastomo, and M. Hasbi, “Students’ perceptions about the impact of AI chatbots on their vocabulary and grammar in EFL writing,” Regist. J., vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 352–382, 2024.

K. S. Moea, “Lexical Competence and Reading Engagement in Crisis: Teachers’ Experiences of Vocabulary-Related Challenges in Reading Comprehension in Lesotho Secondary Schools,” 2026.

N. Schmitt and D. Schmitt, Vocabulary in language teaching. Cambridge university press, 2020.

W. N. L. Wen and R. M. Naim, “Vocabulary learning strategies (VLS) in second language acquisition (SLA): a review of literature,” Int. J. Lang. Lit. Transl., vol. 6, no. 2, 2023.

M. Rohollahzadeh Ebadi, “Technology-mediated teaching vocabulary: Exploring EFL learners’ depth and breadth of lexical knowledge,” Comput. Assist. Lang. Learn., vol. 38, no. 5–6, pp. 1198–1222, 2025.

L. S. Jensen, “Investigating the Relationship between Vocabulary Knowledge and Listening Comprehension in English as a Foreign Language,” in Studies in Second Language Acquisition: Focus on Writing and Vocabulary Development in a Foreign Language, Copenhagen Business School, CBS, 2003, pp. 79–107.

A. Y. Wahyudin, R. Pustika, and M. W. Simamora, “Vocabulary learning strategies of EFL students at tertiary level,” J. English Lit. Educ. Teach. Learn. English as a Foreign Lang., vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 101–112, 2021.

D. S. Wahyuni, “Integrated classroom-chatbot experience: An alternative solution for English as foreign language learners,” English Lang. Educ. Curr. Trends, pp. 63–68, 2022.

Marzuki, U. Widiati, D. Rusdin, Darwin, and I. Indrawati, “The impact of AI writing tools on the content and organization of students’ writing: EFL teachers’ perspective,” Cogent Educ., vol. 10, no. 2, p. 2236469, 2023.

W. Qiu et al., “A systematic approach to evaluate the use of chatbots in educational contexts: Learning gains, engagements and perceptions,” Computers, vol. 14, no. 7, p. 270, 2025.

N. Al_Amin and N. Mahjabeen, “Artificial Intelligence Usage Patterns and Dependency in English Language Learning among Tertiary-Level Students,” Eur. J. English Lang. Stud., vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 205–219, 2025.

K. Mageira, D. Pittou, A. Papasalouros, K. Kotis, P. Zangogianni, and A. Daradoumis, “Educational AI chatbots for content and language integrated learning,” Appl. Sci., vol. 12, no. 7, p. 3239, 2022.

M. Morales-Chan, H. R. Amado-Salvatierra, J. A. Medina, R. Barchino, R. Hernández-Rizzardini, and A. M. Teixeira, “Personalized feedback in massive open online courses: Harnessing the power of LangChain and OpenAI API,” Electronics, vol. 13, no. 10, p. 1960, 2024.

B. Behforouz and A. Al Ghaithi, “Investigating the Effect of an Interactive Educational Chatbot on Reading Comprehension Skills.,” Int. J. Eng. Pedagog., vol. 14, no. 4, 2024.

A. Fošner and B. Aver, “AI chatbots in higher education: Students’ beliefs and concerns,” Sustain. Futur., vol. 9, p. 100734, 2025.

J. W. Creswell and J. D. Creswell, “Research designs: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches,” Callifornia Sage, 2009.

V. Braun and V. Clarke, “Qualitative Research in Psychology Using thematic analysis in psychology Using thematic analysis in psychology,” Qual. Res. Psychol., vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 77–101, 2006, [Online]. Available: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=uqrp20%5Cnhttp://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=uqrp20

M. D. Fetters, L. A. Curry, and J. W. Creswell, “Achieving integration in mixed methods designs—principles and practices,” Health Serv. Res., vol. 48, no. 6pt2, pp. 2134–2156, 2013.

K. F. Hew and L. K. Fryer, “Chatbots for language learning — Are they really useful ? A systematic review of chatbot-supported language learning Weijiao Huang,” no. August, pp. 1–21, 2021, doi: 10.1111/jcal.12610.

H. Fibriasari, B. D. Waluyo, T. T. A. Putri, T. R. Soraya, and N. Harianja, “Revolutionizing Language Learning: The Power of AI-Driven Chatbots in Enhancing Engagement and Proficiency,” Int. J. Inf. Educ. Technol., vol. 15, no. 10, pp. 2058–2071, 2025, doi: 10.18178/ijiet.2025.15.10.2405.

I. S. P. Nation, Learning vocabulary in another language. Cambridge university press, 2022.

Z. Zhang and X. Huang, “The impact of chatbots based on large language models on second language vocabulary acquisition,” Heliyon, vol. 10, no. 3, 2024.

K. S. Moea, B. Behforouz, A. Al Ghaithi, Z. Al Balushi, Z. Zhang, and X. Huang, “Revolutionizing vocabulary acquisition through AI chatbots,” Heliyon, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 1–22, 2025.

M. Yildiz, “Exploring the potential of chatbots and ChatGPT in enhancing vocabulary knowledge,” in Transforming the language teaching experience in the age of AI, IGI Global Scientific Publishing, 2023, pp. 160–188.

N. A. Koka, “An Insight into the Efficiency of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Chatbot as Digital Tutors for Enhancing Learners’ Motivation and Performance in Linguistics Courses.,” Pakistan J. Life Soc. Sci., vol. 22, no. 2, 2024.

Downloads

Additional Files

Published

2026-08-03

How to Cite

[1]
Z. Yavani, P. D. Apriliani, and K. Khomarudin, “Students’ Self-Reported Use of AI Chatbots in Vocabulary Learning: A Mixed-Methods Study in A Reading Course”, J.Gen.Educ.Humanit., vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 5061–5074, Aug. 2026.

Issue

Section

Articles