Abstract
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, particularly with the emergence of ChatGPT, has sparked both excitement and concern in higher education. While AI offers significant opportunities for teaching English for Specific Purposes (ESP), it also raises ethical and pedagogical challenges, necessitating research into its responsible and effective integration. Various approaches are being explored to incorporate AI-driven tools into language learning, particularly in ways that support transformative pedagogies. This study presents a didactic proposal designed to enhance ESP learners’ communication skills through project-based learning (PBL) and the integration of ChatGPT. Conducted at the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) with Design Engineering and Aerospace Engineering students, the project engaged upper-intermediate ESP learners in collaborative tasks grounded in curricular content. Two cohorts conducted an experimental project throughout a semester allowing the instructors to gather data by means of a pre- and post-project questionnaire, as well as an evaluation sheet to measure the degree of acquisition of a number of soft skills. Key findings highlight the potential of AI-assisted corrective feedback, reducing instructors’ workload while allowing them to focus on higher-order learner support. Additionally, results confirm that PBL combined with AI tools effectively fosters both disciplinary and transversal competencies, equipping students with essential life skills—such as effective communication—that will benefit them in their future professional careers. The study underscores the pedagogical value of AI-driven methodologies in preparing ESP learners for multilingual professional environments while ensuring their ethical and informed use of AI in academic and professional settings.
Presenters
Ana Gimeno SanzProfessor, Department of Applied Linguistics, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain Beatriz Martín Marchante
Lecturer, Applied Linguistics, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
English for Specific Purposes, Generative Artificial Intelligence, Project-based Learning, Soft
