AI-assisted Academic Writing in a Blended EFL Setting: Practices and Perceived Effectiveness at FPT University, Hanoi

This study explores how first-year EFL students at FPT University Hanoi use AI tools to support academic writing in a blended learning environment. With platforms like Edunext and My English Lab integrated into coursework, students increasingly turn to AI tools such as ChatGPT, QuillBot, and DeepSeek for idea generation, grammar correction, and content refinement. Using an explanatory mixed-methods design, data were collected from 103 surveys, 45 paired writing samples, and interviews with 7 students. Results show AI tools are most commonly used during the ideation and revision stages, with writing scores improving by an average of 0.94 IELTS band scores. Students also reported increased confidence and clarity, though concerns about over-reliance were noted. The findings highlight AI’s pedagogical potential while stressing the need for digital literacy and guided integration. This research contributes localized insight to the global discourse on AI in EFL writing instruction.