TY - JOUR T1 - Reducing Writing Anxiety in Secondary School EFL Learners through AI-Enhanced Writing Instruction: A Mixed-Methods Study TT - Reducing Writing Anxiety in Secondary School EFL Learners through AI-Enhanced Writing Instruction: A Mixed-Methods Study AU - Aydın Yıldız, Tugba PY - 2025 DA - October Y2 - 2025 JF - Journal of Computer and Education Research JO - JCER PB - Tamer KUTLUCA WT - DergiPark SN - 2148-2896 SP - 1483 EP - 1498 VL - 13 IS - 26 LA - en AB - This mixed-methods study aimed to investigate the effects of AI-enhanced English writing instruction on the writing anxiety levels of 7th-grade students. The study was conducted in a public middle school in Zonguldak, Türkiye, with a total of 41 participants. Over the course of 12 weeks, students engaged in weekly one-hour writing sessions supported by AI tools, primarily ChatGPT. Quantitative data were collected using the Writing Anxiety Scale, while qualitative data were obtained through semi-structured questions administered before and after the intervention. Thematic content analysis of qualitative responses confirmed these findings, indicating that students felt less anxious, more motivated, and increasingly confident throughout the intervention. Participants described the AI tools as supportive, particularly in helping them generate ideas, correct mistakes, and organize their writing more effectively. The integration of AI technologies was found to reduce both emotional and cognitive barriers to writing, suggesting that AI-enhanced instruction can be a valuable resource in English language classrooms. KW - EFL KW - writing anxiety KW - AI KW - secondary school N2 - This mixed-methods study aimed to investigate the effects of AI-enhanced English writing instruction on the writing anxiety levels of 7th-grade students. The study was conducted in a public middle school in Zonguldak, Türkiye, with a total of 41 participants. Over the course of 12 weeks, students engaged in weekly one-hour writing sessions supported by AI tools, primarily ChatGPT. Quantitative data were collected using the Writing Anxiety Scale, while qualitative data were obtained through semi-structured questions administered before and after the intervention. Thematic content analysis of qualitative responses confirmed these findings, indicating that students felt less anxious, more motivated, and increasingly confident throughout the intervention. Participants described the AI tools as supportive, particularly in helping them generate ideas, correct mistakes, and organize their writing more effectively. The integration of AI technologies was found to reduce both emotional and cognitive barriers to writing, suggesting that AI-enhanced instruction can be a valuable resource in English language classrooms. CR - Aydın-Yıldız, T. (2023a). Measurement of attitude in language learning with AI (MALL: AI). Participatory Educational Research, 10(4), 470–489. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.23.62.10.4 CR - Aydın-Yıldız, T. (2023b). The impact of ChatGPT on language learners’ motivation. Journal of Teacher Education and Lifelong Learning, 5(2), 582–597. https://doi.org/10.51535/tell.1314355 CR - Baştuğ, M. (2015). Effects of primary school fourth-grade students’ attitude, disposition and writer’s block on writing success. Education and Science, 40(180), 73–88. https://doi.org/10.15390/EB.2015.4279 CR - Bibauw, S., François, T., & Desmet, P. (2019). Discussing with a computer to practice a foreign language: Research synthesis and conceptual framework of dialogue-based CALL. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 32(8), 827–877. https://doi.org/10.1080/09588221.2018.1535508 CR - Bishop, W. (1989). We're all basic writers: Tutors talking about writing apprehension. The Writing Center Journal, 9(2), 31-42. CR - Book, V. (1976). Some effects of apprehension on writing performance. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Business Communication Association. ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED132595. CR - Boudouaia, A., Mouas, S., & Kouider, B. (2024). A study on ChatGPT-4 as an innovative approach to enhancing English as a foreign language writing learning. Journal of Educational Computing Research, , 62(6), 1289-1317. CR - Can, E., & Topçuoğlu-Ünal, F. (2017). Ortaokul öğrencilerine yönelik yazma tutum ölçeği: Geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması [Attitude scale towards writing for secondary school students: the study of validity and reliability]. International Journal of Languages’ Education and Teaching, 5(3), 203–212. CR - Cheng, J. (2001). Writing for communication: A proposal for reform in teaching English writing in China (PQDT:65454716). Doctoral Dissertation of Xiamen University (People’s Republic of China). CR - Cheng, Y. S. (2002). Factors associated with foreign language writing anxiety. Foreign Language Annals, 35(5), 647–656. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1944-9720.2002.tb01903.x CR - Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2000). Research methods in education (5th ed.). Routledge Falmer. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203224342 CR - Çeçen, M. A., & Deniz, E. (2015). Ortaöğretim öğrencilerinin yazma eğilimi algıları (Diyarbakır ili örneği) [Writing tendency perceptions of secondary school students: the case of Diyarbakır]. Ana Dili Eğitimi Dergisi, 3(2), 35–48. CR - Daly, J. A., & Miller, M. D. (1975). The empirical development of an ınstrument to measure writing apprehension. Research in the Teaching of English, 9(3), 242–249. https://doi.org/10.58680/rte197520067 CR - El Shazly, R. (2021). Effects of artificial intelligence on English speaking anxiety and speaking performance: A case study. Expert Systems, 38(3), e12667. CR - Graham, S., & Perin, D. (2007). Writing next: Effective strategies to improve writing of adolescents in middle and high schools. A report to Carnegie Corporation of New York. Alliance for Excellent Education. CR - Graham, S., Berninger, V., & Fan, W. (2007). The structural relationship between writing attitude and writing achievement in first and third grade students. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 32(3), 516–536. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cedpsych.2007.01.002 CR - Han, Y. X., Zhao, S., & Ng, L. L. (2021). How technology tools impact writing performance, lexical complexity, and perceived self-regulated learning strategies in EFL academic writing: A comparative study. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 752793. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.752793 Horwitz, E. K. (2010). Foreign and second language anxiety. Language Teaching, 43(2), 154–167. https://doi.org/10.1017/S026144480999036X CR - Horwitz, E. K. (1986). Preliminary evidence for the reliability and validity of a foreign language anxiety scale. TESOL Quarterly, 20(3), 559–562. https://doi.org/10.2307/3586302 CR - İşeri, K., & Ünal, E. (2010). Yazma eğilimi ölçeğinin Türkçeye uyarlanması [The adaptation of writing disposition scale into Turkish]. Eğitim ve Bilim, 35(155), 104–117. CR - Karakuş-Tayşi, E., & Taşkın, Y. (2018). Ortaokul öğrencileri için yazma kaygısı ölçeğinin geliştirilmesi: Geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması [Development of the writing anxiety scale for secondary school students: Reliability and validity study]. Uluslararası Türkçe Edebiyat Kültür Eğitim Dergisi, 7(2), 1172–1189. CR - Kohnke, L., Moorhouse, B. L., & Zou, D. (2023). ChatGPT for language teaching and learning. RELC Journal, 54(2), 537–550. https://doi.org/10.1177/00336882231162868 CR - Lin, Y. P., & Yu, Z. G. (2023). Extending technology acceptance model to higher-education students’ use of digital academic reading tools on computers. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 20(1), 34 CR - Lynch, T. (1991). Questioning roles in the classroom. EFL Journal, 45(3), 201-209. CR - Mahapatra, S. (2024). Impact of ChatGPT on ESL students’ academic writing skills: a mixed methods intervention study. Smart Learning Environments, 11(1), 9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-024-00295-9 CR - Piazza, C. L., & Siebert, C. F. (2008). Development and validation of a writing dispositions scale for elementary and middle school students. The Journal of Educational Research, 101(5), 275–285. https://doi.org/10.3200/JOER.101.5.275-286 CR - Punar Özçelik, N., & Yangın Ekşi, G. (2024). Cultivating writing skills: the role of ChatGPT as a learning assistant—a case study. Smart Learning Environments, 11(1), 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-024-00296-8 Song, C., & Song, Y. (2023). Enhancing academic writing skills and motivation: Assessing the efficacy of ChatGPT in AI-assisted language learning for EFL students. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1260843. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1260843 CR - Teng, M. F. (2024). “ChatGPT is the companion, not enemies”: EFL learners’. perceptions and experiences in using ChatGPT for feedback in writing. Computers & Education: Artificial Intelligence, 7, 100270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2024.100270 CR - Tiryaki, E. N. (2012). Üniversite öğrencilerinin yazma kaygısının çeşitli değişkenler açısından belirlenmesi [Determining writing anxieties of university students’ from different variables]. Dil ve Edebiyat Eğitimi Dergisi, 1(1), 14–21. CR - Xin, Z., & Derakhshan, A. (2025). From excitement to anxiety: Exploring English as a foreign language learners’ emotional experiences in the artificial intelligence-powered classrooms. European Journal of Education, 60(1), e12845. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejed.12845 CR - Yaman, H. (2014). Ortaokul öğrencilerinin genel kaygı düzeyleri, yazma kaygıları ve Türkçe dersine yönelik tutumları arasındaki ilişki [The relationship among middle school students’ general anxiety, writing anxiety, and attitudes toward the Turkish language course]. Kuram ve Uygulamada Eğitim Bilimleri, 14(3), 1111–1122. CR - Yıldız, M., & Ceyhan, S. (2016). İlkokul 4. sınıf öğrencilerinin okuma ve yazma kaygılarının değişkenler açısından incelenmesi [The investigation of 4th grade primary school students’ reading and writing anxieties in terms of various variables]. Turkish Studies, 11(2), 1301–1316. http://doi.org/10.7827/TurkishStudies.9370 CR - Yu, Z. (2023). Learning outcomes, motivation, and satisfaction in gamified English vocabulary learning. SAGE Open, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231158332 CR - Zawacki-Richter, O., Marín, V. I., Bond, M., & Gouverneur, F. (2019). Systematic review of research on artificial intelligence applications in higher education—Where are the educators? International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 16(39). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-019-0171-0 CR - Zhang, R., & Zou, D. (2020). Types, purposes, and effectiveness of state-of-the-art technologies for second and foreign language learning. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 33, 1-47. https://doi.org/10.1080/09588221.2020.1744666 CR - Zorbaz, K. Z. (2011). Yazma kaygısı ve yazma kaygısının ölçülmesi [Writing Apprehension and Measurement of it.] e-Journal of New World Sciences Academy, 6(3), 2271–2280. UR - https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/jcer/issue//1697983 L1 - https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/4864092 ER -