A Study of Generative Artificial Intelligence on Empowering English Reading Instruction

This empirical study tests the efficacy of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) in enhancing English reading pedagogy, utilizing DeepSeek as the representative GAI platform. Through an eight-week intervention involving 96 Chinese senior high school students, the research employed the English reading test and the Foreign Language Reading Anxiety Scale. Results demonstrated that GAI integration significantly reduced reading anxiety in the experimental group, contrasting with minimal reduction in the control group. Concurrently, the experimental group achieved markedly higher reading performance. Analysis attributes these outcomes to GAI’s capacity for generating contextualized background knowledge, providing vocabulary support through authentic examples, enabling personalized material creation, and fostering immersive learning environments. Future research should examine GAI applications across diverse language skills and alternative GAI technologies emphasizing judicious implementation to maximize pedagogical benefits.