Impact of Integration of GenAI-Synthesia with Cultural Content in Guided Reading Learning on Learners' Reading Skills and Reading Motivation

Most foreign learners struggle to learn to read in a second language. This is due to the differences in the characteristics of their first and second languages, necessitating appropriate scaffolding. This study examines the impact of GenAI-Synthesia integration with cultural content in guided reading learning to improve the reading skills of foreign learners. The research method used in this study is a quasi-experiment involving 180 foreign learner participants from several universities who are taking Indonesian language courses. The instruments and materials used were cultural reading texts, GenAI-Synthesia, and reading comprehension assessment instruments. The data analysis used is descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, and the independent sample t-test to examine the differences in intervention outcomes on the reading comprehension abilities of both groups. The results of the study indicate that the integration of GenAI-Synthesia with cultural content in guided reading learning can improve reading comprehension skills, reading motivation, and life skills of foreign learners in Indonesia. The increase in reading comprehension skills is seen in their ability to understand explicit and implicit information in the text. The increase in reading motivation is evident in their responses to learning activities, and life skills are seen in the application of cultural understanding in their daily lives. Qualitative findings also show that the integration of culture-based GenAI-synthesia in reading learning can enrich the cultural knowledge, encourage learners to participate actively, and motivate them to actualize cultural understanding in supporting life skills. Thus, the integration of GenAI-synthesia with cultural content can improve reading comprehension skills, reading motivation, and actualization of learners' life skills. This study implies that the integration of GenAI technology and cultural content in cognitive activities and practical activities in second language learning is very effective.