Generative Artificial Intelligence Literacy Training for 12th Grade English as a Foreign Language Students: Effects on Artificial Intelligence Literacy, ChatGPT Usage, and Autonomous English Learning

The rapid integration of generative artificial intelligence tools, particularly ChatGPT, into the English as a foreign language context has changed how learners engage in English language learning in and out-of-class. Despite the growing prevalence of generative artificial intelligence in teaching and learning, artificial intelligence literacy skills among K-12 English as a foreign language students remain underdeveloped. Considering the scarcity of attention to instructional interventions, this quasi-experimental study investigates the effects of a six-week generative artificial intelligence literacy training on 12th-grade English as a foreign language students’ generative artificial intelligence literacy, ChatGPT use for language learning, and learner autonomy. Weekly generative artificial intelligence activity logs and written interviews also qualitatively seek to reveal how participants use generative artificial intelligence tools to develop English skills and elaborate on how they perceive the integration of the intervention. The quantitative findings indicate that the experimental group demonstrated statistically significantly higher levels of generative artificial intelligence literacy, ChatGPT use for language learning, and learner autonomy than the control group. The qualitative results suggest that explicit generative artificial intelligence literacy intervention fosters more informed, autonomous, and self-directed engagement with generative artificial intelligence and ChatGPT for English learning. In this respect, this study contributes to the emerging literature on pedagogical use of generative artificial intelligence in English language education by providing empirical evidence from a K-12 English as a foreign language context.

Cite this article as: Kök, M. (2026). Generative artificial intelligence literacy training for 12th grade English as a foreign language students: effects on artificial intelligence literacy, ChatGPT usage, and autonomous English learning. HAYEF: Journal of Education, 23, 0029, doi: 10.5152/hayef.2026.26029.