Investigating AI-Mediated Informal Digital Learning of English Practices among Indonesian Undergraduates

AI’s unprecedented advancement has impacted various fields, including foreign language learning. This research aimed to investigate EFL students’ engagement with AI for their informal English Learning and their perceptions regarding AI’s practicality and challenges. Using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, this study carried out an online survey involving 82 students in the quantitative phase. It was followed by semi-structured interviews in the qualitative phase. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were employed to discover the patterns of AI’s acceptance, students’ voices on AI’s usability, AI practicality, reasons for using AI, and analytical considerations. The quantitative phase indicates that the percentage of AI use is high (97.6%), but its usage frequency remains moderate. Students approved AI’s usefulness for developing their vocabulary, assisting their writing, and regulating their own learning. Students also voiced concerns about accuracy and critical thinking loss (M=4.11) and overreliance. Semi-structured interviews with four students provided more profound insights that AI use was formed by accessibility and platform familiarity. Supporting the quantitative phase findings, students claimed AI was an easy, emotionally supportive, and helpful learning aid, but faced challenges in creating effective prompts and avoiding dependency. This study implies that students’ AI literacy advancement is mandatory to encourage more efficient, analytical, and independent AI-mediated informal language learning.