Turkish EFL Learners' Opinions on Duolingo vs AI-based Application EWA: An Example in Foreign Language Education

Abstract

The educational implications of using applications to improve students' success in language acquisition are worth investigating. The AI-powered application EWA has gained popularity in the study of second language acquisition. As a result, this study looked into the varying perspectives on Duolingo and the AI-based program EWA as English language learning tools. 12 EFL students with equivalent English proficiency levels (A2) took part in the study. They were required to read brief texts, do exercises, and play games on Duolingo and EWA before expressing their impressions in one-minute papers. The study compared AI-based and non-AI-based applications, as well as the efficacy of EWA for this purpose, in an effort to investigate students' impressions of learning a foreign language. The results show that, overall, they had a pleasant experience, and that they learned a lot from battling against others as well as against themselves. Students preferred EWA, a user-friendly program that is readily available on portable devices, gives quick feedback, and may be considered a practical instrument for fostering an atmosphere that can inspire and involve learners in their learning context.