Enhancing Students’ Recount Writing Skills through Meta AI Integration in WhatsApp: A Study of Eighth-Grade Learners

Abstract

The rapid advancement of digital technology has reshaped the way students learn and teachers deliver instruction, particularly in the area of writing. Writing is one of the most challenging skills for students in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning, and many learners struggle with grammar accuracy, vocabulary range, coherence, and organization. This study aimed to explore the use of Meta AI through WhatsApp as a digital support tool for teaching recount text writing among eighth-grade students at SMPN 1 Sukodadi, Lamongan. Employing a qualitative descriptive design, the study involved classroom observation, writing samples, and semi-structured interviews with students and their English teacher. The findings revealed that students made notable progress in several aspects of writing, with the most significant improvements observed in grammar, coherence, and organization. Students also reported higher confidence and motivation when writing, as they felt supported by the immediate feedback provided by Meta AI. The teacher observed similar benefits but also highlighted challenges such as students’ over-reliance on AI suggestions and occasional technical issues. These results indicate that Meta AI can serve as an effective complementary tool to enhance students’ writing skills when mediated by teacher guidance. The study concludes that integrating AI into familiar platforms like WhatsApp provides both opportunities and challenges for language learning, and further research is recommended to examine its long-term effects across different writing genres.