How Can Generative AI Support English Teaching in Rural Primary Schools? Perspectives and Experiences of Teachers in Economically Underdeveloped Regions

Artificial intelligence (AI) is developing at a speed beyond people's imagination, gradually unleashing its potential in various fields, including education. However, there is still a lack of research on the use of LLM by primary school English teachers in economically underdeveloped areas during actual teaching. Therefore, this study interviewed 12 primary English teachers from rural areas through semi-structured interviews and collected their experiences of using generative AI through usage logs. The research results indicate that teachers believe they can use generative AI to prepare courses and teach. Regarding the positive impact on teachers, they pointed out that their work efficiency and teaching atmosphere can be improved. Teachers believe that generative AI can help them improve themselves. Students can achieve better English learning performance by using generative AI for assisted learning. They can enhance their interest in learning English, their ability to learn independently, and their confidence in acquiring knowledge. However, teachers have also found that dependency, difficulty mismatch, and technological accessibility are also issues they face when using it. Therefore, appropriate guidance and supervision, and hardware conditions are all extremely important.