UYêN PHạM (DONG THAP UNIVERSITY)
BRIAN COLLYER (Education Connections (Asia-Pacific))
THUY HONG (Dong Thap University)

EXPLORING EFL STUDENTS’ ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS ON PLAGIARISM WHEN USING CHATGPT IN VIETNAMESE UNIVERSITIES : GLOBAL ISSUES IN LANGUAGE EDUCATION

Since its public release in 2022, ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot based on large language models, has rapidly emerged as a powerful educational tool, significantly impacting language education globally, especially in EFL contexts. Research into the integration of ChatGPT in English language teaching in higher education has indicated its potential in applications such as computerized assessment, personalized tutoring and feedback, and illuminating ideas in writing. However, despite considerable benefits, ChatGPT’s capability to generate human-like text based on the input provided has raised concerns regarding the possibility of academic dishonesty. One of the biggest challenges EFL learners worldwide face is plagiarism. Using a mixed method approach, this study, therefore, aims to explore university students’ attitudes and perceptions regarding plagiarism when using ChatGPT in three universities in the Mekong Delta. A total of 200 English major students were involved in the survey. Among these participants, twenty students were selected for semi-structured interviews. The findings are expected to reveal that students find plagiarism unacceptable when using ChatGPT to learn English. Additionally, the study will identify factors contributing to plagiarism, namely academic, personal, and technological. Key recommendations based on the findings including fostering plagiarism awareness programs, providing support from lecturers, and utilizing technological tools for plagiarism detection are also presented to enhance students’ knowledge and awareness about plagiarism in their studies. Keywords: ChatGPT, EFL students, university, plagiarism, attitudes, perceptions

Pham Huynh Thuy Uyen, completing her MA in TESOL from Ho Chi Minh City Open University in 2023, currently serve as a lecturer at Dong Thap University. Her interests extend to exploring the adaptability of educational models for pre-service teachers in modern classrooms and evaluating their use of technology in learning, as well as their technological skills in future English instruction. These pursuits underscore her dedication to ensuring that teaching methodologies align with the dynamic needs of 21st-century pre-service learners. century pre-service learners.

Brian Collyer is an English teacher and independent researcher with extensive experience in culturally diverse environments. He has taught English in Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia and China and he has professional interests in pronunciation pedagogy, psycholinguistics and nonverbal communication. He has a MEd (TESOL) and MEd (Higher Education) from the University of Wollongong, Australia.

Hong Diem Thuy is a lecturer at the Foreign Languages Faculty, Dong Thap University, Vietnam. She is chiefly responsible for teaching English skills, Teaching Methodology, and Test preparation courses. Her research primarily focuses on language teacher cognition, teaching methodology, and active learning in the EFL context.