Artificial Intelligence-Supported English as a Foreign Language Learning: A Narrative Review of Personalisation, Feedback, Engagement and Pedagogical Collaboration
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46328/ijtes.7018Keywords:
Artificial intelligence, English as a Foreign Language, personalised learning, assessment and feedback, student engagement, AI-supported language learningAbstract
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has substantially reshaped educational practices substantially, particularly within English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning contexts. This narrative review synthesises peer-reviewed research published between 2020 and 2025 to examine how AI supports EFL learners across six key dimensions: learning personalisation and adaptation; assessment and feedback; student engagement and motivation; study support and skills development; teacher–student–AI pedagogical collaboration; and critical challenges and ethical considerations. Drawing on recent high-quality peer-reviewed journal articles, the review employs a thematic synthesis approach to integrate diverse theoretical perspectives, empirical evidence and pedagogical insights. The findings indicate that AI-supported technologies can enhance EFL learning by enabling adaptive instruction, delivering timely and formative feedback, fostering learner engagement and motivation, and supporting self-regulated learning and language skill development. Simultaneously, the review underscores the importance of human-centric pedagogical design, highlighting that AI is most effective when positioned as a complement to, rather than a substitute for, teacher expertise and learner agency. Key challenges – including academic integrity, ethical concerns, data privacy, algorithmic bias, over-reliance on technology and inequitable access – also are identified as significant constraints on effective AI integration. Overall, this review offers an integrative and pedagogically grounded account of AI-supported EFL learning and poses implications for instructional practice, teacher education and future research aimed at promoting responsible, equitable and sustainable uses of AI in language education.
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