Probing the necessity and advantages of AI integration training for EFL educators in Saudi Arabia
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to transform various educational fields, English as a Foreign Language (EFL) educators must develop the necessary skills to integrate AI tools into their teaching. Ensuring that teachers are well-prepared for this technological shift is essential for maintai...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Cogent Education |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2472462 |
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| author | Amal Abdelsattar Metwally Wagdi Rashad Ali Bin-Hady |
| author_facet | Amal Abdelsattar Metwally Wagdi Rashad Ali Bin-Hady |
| author_sort | Amal Abdelsattar Metwally |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to transform various educational fields, English as a Foreign Language (EFL) educators must develop the necessary skills to integrate AI tools into their teaching. Ensuring that teachers are well-prepared for this technological shift is essential for maintaining high-quality instruction and meeting students’ evolving needs. This study examines the level of training required by Saudi EFL educators to effectively integrate AI into teaching. It also explores teachers’ perspectives on the positive insights resulting from such training. A mixed-methods approach was employed, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data using a questionnaire. The questionnaire was based on the five dimensions of AI competency for teachers as proposed by UNESCO (2023) to assess EFL educators’ perceptions of the necessity of AI training. Findings indicate a critical need for AI training among Saudi EFL educators, with an average mean score of 4.67. The findings also revealed that training EFL educators on integrating AI in their teaching practice leads to boosting students’ adaptability, supporting students with future potential, and achieving students’ needs. Additionally, AI training enables educators to safeguard student privacy, familiarize themselves with their ethical responsibilities, engage in continuous professional development, and equip themselves with AI-based pedagogical requirements. Ultimately, professional development training for EFL teachers empowers them and elevates their teaching competencies. The study recommends that educational institutions provide comprehensive AI training programs for EFL teachers to ensure the effective, ethical, and responsible use of AI tools in language education. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b281ca28fa8547109ec50e9bf4cf7002 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2331-186X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cogent Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-b281ca28fa8547109ec50e9bf4cf70022025-08-20T02:38:10ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Education2331-186X2025-12-0112110.1080/2331186X.2025.2472462Probing the necessity and advantages of AI integration training for EFL educators in Saudi ArabiaAmal Abdelsattar Metwally0Wagdi Rashad Ali Bin-Hady1Department of Translation, College of Languages and Translation, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of English, College of Education, Humanities and Applied Sciences, Hadhramout University, YemenAs Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to transform various educational fields, English as a Foreign Language (EFL) educators must develop the necessary skills to integrate AI tools into their teaching. Ensuring that teachers are well-prepared for this technological shift is essential for maintaining high-quality instruction and meeting students’ evolving needs. This study examines the level of training required by Saudi EFL educators to effectively integrate AI into teaching. It also explores teachers’ perspectives on the positive insights resulting from such training. A mixed-methods approach was employed, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data using a questionnaire. The questionnaire was based on the five dimensions of AI competency for teachers as proposed by UNESCO (2023) to assess EFL educators’ perceptions of the necessity of AI training. Findings indicate a critical need for AI training among Saudi EFL educators, with an average mean score of 4.67. The findings also revealed that training EFL educators on integrating AI in their teaching practice leads to boosting students’ adaptability, supporting students with future potential, and achieving students’ needs. Additionally, AI training enables educators to safeguard student privacy, familiarize themselves with their ethical responsibilities, engage in continuous professional development, and equip themselves with AI-based pedagogical requirements. Ultimately, professional development training for EFL teachers empowers them and elevates their teaching competencies. The study recommends that educational institutions provide comprehensive AI training programs for EFL teachers to ensure the effective, ethical, and responsible use of AI tools in language education.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2472462Artificial intelligenceAI integrationEFL teacher trainingpedagogical innovationprofessional developmentApplied Linguistics |
| spellingShingle | Amal Abdelsattar Metwally Wagdi Rashad Ali Bin-Hady Probing the necessity and advantages of AI integration training for EFL educators in Saudi Arabia Cogent Education Artificial intelligence AI integration EFL teacher training pedagogical innovation professional development Applied Linguistics |
| title | Probing the necessity and advantages of AI integration training for EFL educators in Saudi Arabia |
| title_full | Probing the necessity and advantages of AI integration training for EFL educators in Saudi Arabia |
| title_fullStr | Probing the necessity and advantages of AI integration training for EFL educators in Saudi Arabia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Probing the necessity and advantages of AI integration training for EFL educators in Saudi Arabia |
| title_short | Probing the necessity and advantages of AI integration training for EFL educators in Saudi Arabia |
| title_sort | probing the necessity and advantages of ai integration training for efl educators in saudi arabia |
| topic | Artificial intelligence AI integration EFL teacher training pedagogical innovation professional development Applied Linguistics |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2472462 |
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