Artificial intelligence in language education: evaluating ChatGPT’s effect on foreign language learners’ anxiety, motivation and attitudes

Artificial intelligence (AI) has increasingly influenced language education, with tools such as ChatGPT offering personalised support and affective scaffolding in EFL settings. While interest in AI-mediated learning is growing, evidence of its emotional impact remains limited, particularly in conservative, gender-segregated contexts. This study examined whether ChatGPT-supported instruction influenced motivation, anxiety, and attitudes among Saudi female EFL learners. A quasi-experimental design involved 40 intermediate EAP students divided into experimental (ChatGPT-enhanced) and control (traditional) groups. Data were collected using FLCAS, AMTB, and a researcher-developed questionnaire. Mixed-effects modelling showed no significant group differences after five sessions, though reliability was high (α = .75–.95). Findings suggest ChatGPT supported emotional stability and positive perceptions, contributing context-specific evidence and highlighting the need for longer-term, mixed-method research.