Students’ Perceptions of the Importance of English Competence in the AI Era: A Case Study of Non-English Department Students at a Faculty of Economics and Business

Abstract

The rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has significantly influenced many aspects of human life, including education. Nowadays, students frequently use AI tools to support their learning, complete assignments, solve difficult tasks, and translate languages. This phenomenon raises questions about the importance of English competence in the AI era, especially among non-English department students. Therefore, this study aims to investigate students’ perceptions of the importance of English competence in the AI era. This study employed a descriptive qualitative method in which the data were analyzed qualitatively by the researcher. The participants of this study were non-English department students at a Faculty of Economics and Business. The findings reveal diverse perceptions regarding the necessity of English competence in the AI era. Some students believe that English competence remains important despite the availability of AI tools, while others tend to rely on AI to overcome language difficulties. The study also shows that students’ perceptions of the importance of English competence influence their willingness to learn English and may affect their perspectives on their children’s future language learning. In conclusion, AI significantly affects students’ perceptions of the importance of English competence. Therefore, further studies are recommended to investigate more deeply the challenges and potential threats posed by AI to motivation in language learning, particularly English, in the future.