“A case study on students’ experiences and factors influencing their effective use of ChatGPT in L2 writing feedback process

While ongoing debates surround the drawbacks and potential opportunities of students using ChatGPT in their learning, there is limited understanding of students' perspectives, particularly in the context of L2 writing and seeking feedback from ChatGPT. This case study examined students' experiences and identified factors influencing their effective use of ChatGPT in the second language writing feedback process. The study involved twelve Chinese students with varying levels of writing proficiency from a higher education institution enrolled in an English writing course. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and screencasts capturing the interaction between learners and ChatGPT. Both qualitative and quantitative analysis methods were employed. The findings of the study indicate that the participants expressed overall satisfaction with the feedback provided by ChatGPT on linguistic and grammatical aspects of their L2 writing. However, it was observed that ChatGPT primarily offered general feedback on the content of the writing, lacking specific focus. Additionally, some feedback did not meet learners' expectations, and participants reported instances of erroneous sources. Personal factors influencing the effective use of ChatGPT included the types of questions asked, students’ self-reflection on their weaknesses after receiving feedback, the strategies they employed to act on feedback and the participants’ English proficiency level, which may hinder their ability to accurately express themselves and request feedback. The results provide insights into the practical application of using ChatGPT for L2 writing feedback.