Digital agency and authorial identity in AI-assisted ESL writing: A case study of Indonesian diaspora students in Malaysia

Mustofa, Khoirul, Badriyah, Ima Mutholliatil and Hasnawati, Lina (2026) Digital agency and authorial identity in AI-assisted ESL writing: A case study of Indonesian diaspora students in Malaysia. Journal of General Education and Humanities, 5 (5). 5943 -5960. ISSN 2963-7147

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Abstract

This study explores how multilingual secondary-school ESL students in an Indonesian diaspora context negotiate their digital agency when using generative AI tools. Specifically, the study examines how students engage with and navigate the perceived potential influence of algorithmic homogenization while trying to preserve their emotional authenticity in L2 academic writing. This study employs a qualitative case study design with data gathered from seven purposefully selected participants through document analysis of their AI prompts, machine outputs, and final essays, triangulated with stimulated recall interviews. Through thematic analysis, the findings reveal a heterogeneous landscape of AI adoption, where the multilingual secondary-school ESL students engage in situational compromises—delegating rigid linguistic tasks to the machine while defending their personal narratives and cultural expressions. The students do not act as passive receivers; instead, they strategically position the tools as pedagogical scaffolds for structural blueprints and lexical consultations. These findings suggest that digital agency and identity preservation operate as closely interrelated dimensions within L2 writing. Ultimately, while highlighting the necessity of critical algorithmic literacy, it should be noted that these findings are highly context-specific to this unique diaspora demographic and should not be interpreted as broadly generalizable to other settings.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Keywords:	artificial intelligence; authorial identity; digital agency; second language writing; diaspora students
Subjects:	13 EDUCATION > 1301 Education Systems > 130106 Secondary Education 13 EDUCATION > 1302 Curriculum and Pedagogy > 130204 English and Literacy Curriculum and Pedagogy (excl. LOTE, ESL and TESOL) 13 EDUCATION > 1399 Other Education
Divisions:	Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teaching Training > Department of English Language Education
Depositing User:	Ima Mutholliatil Badriyah
Date Deposited:	21 Sep 2026 10:42

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