Between Ideas and Words: Students’ Experiences in Expressing Thoughts Through Academic Writing

Abstract

Academic writing is an important skill for EFL students because it allows them to express their ideas, arguments, and critical viewpoints in a formal academic setting. However, many students
still struggle to turn their ideas into coherent academic writing. This study sought to investigate EFL students' experiences expressing their thoughts through academic writing, including the difficulties they encountered, the strategies they employed, and their emotional experiences during the writing process. This study used a qualitative phenomenological approach with 10 TBI students from a higher education institution. Purposive sampling was used to select participants based on their academic writing experience and use of AI tools like ChatGPT, Grammarly, and QuillBot. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and documentation, and analyzed using Miles and Huberman's interactive model, which included data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings revealed that students found academic writing both challenging and meaningful. Grammar, vocabulary, idea organization, coherence, idea development, and emotional challenges like anxiety, nervousness, pressure, and lack of confidence were among the most difficult. Despite these challenges, students used a variety of strategies to improve their writing, such as outlining, revising drafts, reading academic references, practicing writing, using AI-based writing tools, and employing self-management strategies. The findings also revealed that academic writing required not only linguistic competence, but also cognitive organization, emotional regulation, motivation, and strategic learning behaviors. This study concludes that EFL students require ongoing writing practice, supportive learning environments, emotional support, and effective writing strategies in order to improve their academic writing skills and confidence in expressing ideas. Furthermore, when used responsibly and ethically, AI tools can help students improve their writing skills.