  Natural language generation (NLG) is a process within artificial intelligence
where computer systems produce human-comprehensible language texts from
information. English as a foreign language (EFL) students' use of NLG tools
might facilitate their idea generation, which is fundamental to creative
writing. However, little is known about how EFL students interact with NLG
tools to generate ideas. This study explores strategies adopted by EFL students
when searching for ideas using NLG tools, evaluating ideas generated by NLG
tools and selecting NLG tools for ideas generation. Four Hong Kong secondary
school students attended workshops where they learned to write stories
comprising their own words and words generated by NLG tools. After the
workshops, they answered questions to reflect on their writing experience with
NLG tools. In a thematic analysis of the written reflections, we found students
may have existing ideas when searching for ideas and evaluating ideas with NLG
tools. Students showed some aversion to ideas generated by NLG tools and
selected NLG tools that generated a greater quantity of ideas. The findings
inform our understanding of EFL students' concerns when using NLG tools for
idea generation and can inform educators' instruction to implement NLG tools
for classroom creative writing.
