Generative AI in language learning: a study of ChatGPT uses in a French as a Foreign Language Department
Résumé
Generative Artificial Intelligence’s stunning arrival and easy access in the field of education has raised questions, and has become one of the main challenges throughout the teaching community. Accordingly, such sudden technological development needs to be studied. In the field of teaching and learning language, it is obvious that learners resort to GenAI tools. Conducting research is then essential if we want to understand the relation between learners and these tools. This paper seeks to gain insight into students' knowledge and habits with ChatGPT to understand the learning strategies students developed and to identify their attitudes and representations towards GenAI in the context of language learning. In order to achieve these objectives, a questionnaire was first distributed within the French as a Foreign Language department of the Université de Lorraine and, in a second phase, interviews were conducted. Results show learners are both familiar with GenAI tools (specifically ChatGPT) and have become regular users in and outside the classroom. Strategies used to support French learning are varied and show students demonstrate strong digital literacy skills.