Critical thinking in the age of generative AI: Effects of a short-term experiential learning intervention on EFL learners

The integration of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT has transformed English as a Foreign Language (EFL) education, offering new opportunities for supporting writing, research, and critical inquiry. However, unguided use of AI may foster cognitive passivity and over-reliance, highlighting the need for targeted pedagogical interventions. Grounded in experiential learning theory, this quasi- experimental study, employing a pretest–posttest control group design, evaluated the effectiveness of a 90-minute workshop, the Critical AI Engagement Cycle, in enhancing EFL learners’ critical thinking skills when using ChatGPT. Despite the short duration, the workshop included multiple scaffolded activities designed to stimulate immediate critical reflection. Seventy-two undergraduate and graduate students at a Vietnamese public university participated, with 38 assigned to the experimental group and 34 to the control group. Participants were selected using convenience sampling based on course enrollment and availability. Pre- and post-test results demonstrated statistically significant improvements in overall critical thinking and each of the four subdomains— analytical skills, logical reasoning, evidence evaluation, and open-mindedness—among participants in the experimental group. Notably, the consistent and large effect sizes across all critical thinking subdomains (Cohen’s d = 0.94 to 1.23) underscore the robust impact of the intervention. The experimental group significantly outperformed the control group in post-intervention critical thinking scores, even after controlling for pretest scores, gender, prior AI knowledge, and AI skill level, as confirmed by ANCOVA analyses. The results suggest that even brief, theoretically grounded interventions can significantly enhance critical thinking skills in AI-mediated EFL environments. These findings underscore the importance of evidence-informed practices and highlight the need for explicit critical thinking training to ensure sustainable and responsible educational practices in the age of generative AI.