Malay proverb visualization: a study on the potential of ai-generated image in enhancing secondary school student's understanding and appreciation

Proverbs benefit a person in the aspects of language, communication, cultural understanding, wisdom and life lessons, critical thinking, character building and more. Hence, understanding proverbs should start from an early age. In order to increase Malaysian school children's comprehension and appreciation towards Malay proverbs, this study aims to explore the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated images, opposed to the existing manual and digital human’s drawing materials in visualizing the proverbs. The study employs a quantitative methodology where 100 respondents consisting of the secondary school students from different schools in Malaysia make up its sample. A set of questionnaires and proverbs images generated by MidJourney generative AI program were used in collecting the data. Results imply that using AI-generated images can improve respondents' comprehension and enjoyment in learning Malay proverbs. The study shows the potential of AI technology as a tool for the production of teaching and learning materials to foster a deeper appreciation of Malay cultural heritage.