Keyword: «academic self-esteem»

Changes in the Perception of the “Linguistic Self”: How Neural Machine Translation Transforms Students’ Reflective Assessment of Their Language Competence – from the Sense of Mastery to Impostor Syndrome

Authors:

Olga Kostikova,

Karina Shamilevna Khalilova

The article examines the transformation of the linguistic “self” among university students under conditions of systematic use of generative artificial intelligence tools in foreign language learning. Empirical data reveal a paradoxical gap between objective academic performance and the subjective sense of communicative competence, accompanied by increased foreign language anxiety and the development of impostor syndrome. Based on survey and in-depth interview results (N=30), the mechanisms of linguistic personality fragmentation, algorithmic dependency, and erosion of authorial responsibility are identified. A model of conscious AI integration into the educational process is proposed, including a structured independent work algorithm for students and methodological recommendations for teachers aimed at preserving the authenticity of speech activity and fostering a stable linguistic identity.

Keywords: foreign language, artificial intelligence, linguistic personality, language anxiety, impostor syndrome, academic self-esteem, digitalization of education.