Exploring English as a Foreign Language Teachers’ Competencies in using AI for Teaching and Learning

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24086/cuejhss.v10n1y2026.pp48-55

Keywords:

Artificial Intelligence, Teaching and Learning, EFL Teachers, Teaching competencies

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence is a new dominant technological trend in the process of education. It is proved to be effective in enhancing learning process and promote learners’ engagement. Consequently, the effective use of AI requires a skillful teach who has the required pedagogical and conceptual competencies to use the applications effectively.  Thus, the present research tries to explore EFL teachers' competencies in using AI for teaching and learning. Following the descriptive analytical method of research, the research uses an observation sheet as a main instrument to investigate (15) university teachers’ competencies of using AI applications in EFL instruction. Those teachers are a staff at Salahaddin University-Erbil who teach EFL for the first year at the faculties of Engineering, Science, Agriculture, Economy and Management. Results of the observation sheet reveals that demonstrated a deep practice and use of AI applications, particularly in content development, lesson planning, test generation, lesson delivery, language skills development, vocabulary and grammar instruction, classroom automation and self-directed and personalized practice using adaptive platforms. However, the observations also revealed weak performance and less ability in foundational AI knowledge, especially regarding core concepts such as machine learning, natural language processing, and algorithmic bias.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Aree G. Hussain, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Aree G. Hussain is an assistant lecturer works in the  Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

References

An, X., Chai, C.S., Li, Y., Zhou, Y., Shen, X., Zheng, C., & Chen, M. (2023). Modeling English teachers’ behavioral intention to use artificial intelligence in middle schools. Education and Information Technologies, 28(5), 5187-5208. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-022-11286-z

Arslan, K. (2020). Artificial intelligence and applications in education. Western Anatolia Journal of Educational Sciences, 11(1), 71-80.

Baker, T., & Smith, L. (2019). Educ-AI-tion Rebooted? Exploring the Future of Artificial Intelligence in Schools and Colleges. Nesta Foundation. Available from: https://media.nesta.org.uk/documents/future_of_ai_and_education_v5_web.pdf

[Last accessed on 2025 Jun 10].

Chai, C.S., Lin, P.Y., Jong, M.S.Y., Dai, Y., Chiu, T.K.F., & Huang, B. (2020). Factors influencing students’ behavioral intention to continue artificial intelligence learning. In: 2020 International Symposium on Educational Technology (ISET). New York: IEEE. p147-150. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/ISET49818.2020.00040

Chen, A., Zhang, Y., Jia, J., Liang, M., Cha, Y., & Lim, C.P. (2024). A systematic review and meta‐analysis of AI‐enabled assessment in language learning: Design, implementation, and effectiveness. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 41, e13064. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jcal.13064

Chiu, T.K.F., & Chai, C.S. (2020). Sustainable curriculum planning for artificial intelligence education: A self-determination theory perspective. Sustainability, 12, 5568. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12145568

Divekar, R.R., Drozdal, J., Chabot, S., Zhou, Y., Su, H., Chen, Y., Zhu, H., Hendler, J.A., & Braasch, J. (2021). Foreign language acquisition via artificial intelligence and extended reality: Design and evaluation. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 35, 2332-2360. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09588221.2021.1879162

Edwards, C., Edwards, A., Spence, P.R., & Lin, X. (2018). I, teacher: Using artificial intelligence (AI) and social robots in communication and instruction. Communication Education, 67(4), 473-480. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03634523.2018.1502459

El Shazly, R. (2021). Effects of artificial intelligence on English speaking anxiety and speaking performance: A case study. Expert Systems, 38(3), e12667. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/exsy.12667

Fahimirad, M., & Kotamjani, S.S. (2018). A review on application of artificial intelligence in teaching and learning in educational contexts. International Journal of Learning and Development, 8(4), 106-118. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5296/ijld.v8i4.14057

Gao, J. (2021). Exploring the feedback quality of an automated writing evaluation system Pigai. International Emerging Technology in Learning, 16(11), 322-330. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v16i11.19657

Garcia, I., & Peña, M.I. (2011). Machine translation-assisted language learning: Writing for beginners. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 24(1), 471-487. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09588221.2011.582687

Hazaymeh, W.A., Bouzenoun, A., & Remache, A. (2024). EFL instructors’ perspective on using AI applications in English as a foreign language teaching and learning. Emerging Science Journal, 8, 73-87. DOI: https://doi.org/10.28991/ESJ-2024-SIED1-05

Hsu, T.C., Chang, C., Jen, T.H. (2023). Artificial Intelligence image recognition using self-regulation learning strategies: Effects on vocabulary acquisition, learning anxiety, and learning behaviours of English language learners. Interactive Learning Environments, 32, 3060-3078. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2023.2165508

Ikedinachi, A. P., Misra, S., Assibong, P. A., Olu-Owolabi, E. F., Maskeliūnas, R., & Damasevicius, R. (2019). Artificial intelligence, smart classrooms and online education in the 21st century: Implications for human development. Journal of Cases on Information Technology (JCIT), 21(3), 66-79. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/JCIT.2019070105

Jiang, R. (2022). How does artificial intelligence empower EFL teaching and learning nowadays? A review on artificial intelligence in the EFL context. Frontiers in Psychology, 13(10), 1049401. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1049401

Joshi, S., Rambola, R.K., & Churi, P. (2021). Evaluating artificial intelligence in education for next generation. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1714(1), 012039. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1714/1/012039

Kim, D.W., Jang, H.Y., Kim, K.W., Shin, Y., & Park, S.H. (2019). Design characteristics of studies reporting the performance of artificial intelligence algorithms for diagnostic analysis of medical images: Results from recently published papers. Korean Journal of Radiology, 20(3), 405-410. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2019.0025

Lan, W., & Xu, W. (2018). Neural network models for paraphrase identification, semantic textual similarity, natural language inference, and question answering. arXiv preprint arXiv:1806.04330. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.1806.04330.

Lee, H., & Lee, J.H. (2024). The effects of AI-guided individualized language learning: A meta-analysis. Language Learning and Technology, 28(2), 134-162. DOI: https://doi.org/10.64152/10125/73575

Luckin, R., Holmes, W., Griffiths, M., & Forcier, L.B. (2016). Intelligence Unleashed: An Argument for AI in Education. Available from: https://discoveryucl.ac.uk/1475756 [Last accessed on 2025 Jun 10].

Markauskaite, L., Marrone, R., Poquet, O., Knight, S., Martinez-Maldonado, R., Howard, S., Tondeur, J., De Laat, M., Buckingham Shum, S., Gašević, D., & Siemens, G. (2022). Rethinking the entwinement between artificial intelligence and human learning: What capabilities do learners need for a world with AI? Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, 3, 100056. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2022.100056

Massoudi, A., & Zaidan, M.N. (2025). Factors influencing IOT acceptance among university students in Iraq: An application of the extended UTAUT model. Revista ENIAC Pesquisa, 14(2), 337-364. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22567/rep.v14i2.1077

Massoudi, A.H., Agha, A.M.Q., & Zamoum, K. (2025). Bridging AI marketing and customer loyalty. Cihan University-Erbil Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 9(1), 106-113. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24086/cuejhss.v9n1y2025.pp106-113

Mijwil, M.M., Aggarwal, K., Salim Mutar, D., Mansour, N., & Sarban Singh, R.S. (2022). The position of artificial intelligence in the future of education: An overview. Asian Journal of Applied Sciences, 10(2), 102-108. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24203/ajas.v10i2.6956

Mohamed, K., & Siddiqui, A. (2021). Incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) tools in EFL classes at King Khalid University (KKU). Tianjin Daxue Xuebao (Ziran Kexue yu Gongcheng Jishu Ban) Journal of Tianjin University Science and Technology, 54,197-221.

Ng, D.T.K., Lee, M., Tan, R.J.Y., Hu, X., Downie, J.S., & Chu, S.K.W. (2022). A review of AI teaching and learning from 2000 to 2020. Education and Information Technologies, 28, 8445-8501. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-022-11491-w

Ng, D.T.K., Leung, J.K.L., Su, J., Ng, R.C.W., & Chu, S.K.W. (2023). Teachers’ AI digital competencies and twenty-first century skills in the post-pandemic world. Educational Technology Research and Development, 71, 137-161. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-023-10203-6

Olari, V., & Romeike, R. (2021). Addressing AI and Data Literacy in Teacher Education: A Review of Existing Educational Frameworks. In: ACM Conference Proceedings. p1-2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3481312.3481351

Pokrivcakova, S. (2019). Preparing teachers for the application of AI-powered technologies in foreign language education. Journal of Language and Cultural Education, 7(3), 135-153. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jolace-2019-0025

Stone, P., Brooks, R., Brynjolfsson, E., Calo, R., Etzioni, O., Hager, G., Hirschberg, J., Kalyanakrishnan, S., Kamar, E., Kraus, S., Leyton-Brown, K., Parkes, D., Press, W., Saxenian, A., Shah, J., Tambe, M., & Teller, A. (2022).

Artificial Intelligence and Life in 2030: The One Hundred Year Study on Artificial Intelligence. [arXiv Preprint].

Sun, L., Hu, L., & Zhou, D. (2022). Programming attitudes predict computational thinking: Analysis of differences in gender and programming experience. Computers and Education, 181, 104457. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2022.104457

Published

2026-01-20

How to Cite

Hussain, A. (2026). Exploring English as a Foreign Language Teachers’ Competencies in using AI for Teaching and Learning. Cihan University-Erbil Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 10(1), 48–55. https://doi.org/10.24086/cuejhss.v10n1y2026.pp48-55

Issue

Section

Articles

Similar Articles

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.