The growing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots in English language learning has sparked increasing interest in their potential to enhance learners’ willingness to communicate (WTC) in English. Nonetheless, comprehensive syntheses of their impact remain limited. This study presents a narrative meta-synthesis of empirical evidence on AI chatbot-assisted English learning in the Asian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) context, including Iran, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Thailand, and Vietnam. A systematic search of prominent databases (Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCO, and Google Scholar) yielded pertinent studies, which were thematically analyzed to synthesize quantitative and qualitative results. The synthesis reveals that regular chatbot interaction enhances WTC, communicative confidence, and motivation by reducing speaking anxiety and providing adaptive, nonjudgmental feedback. Learners reported increased fluency and engagement when using AI chatbots such as Google Assistant, Alexa, and ChatGPT, although technological limitations and limited conversational depth occasionally hindered sustained interaction. Although most studies show moderate to strong short-term effects, evidence on long-term transfer to real-world communication remains scarce. Overall, the findings emphasize AI chatbots as valuable mediators of communicative readiness and confidence among Asian EFL learners, while emphasizing the necessity of longitudinal and context-sensitive research to refine their pedagogical application.

This study aims to describe Indonesian EFL teachers’ perceived perspective and self-efficacy in EFL teaching using ICALL, reveal the prominent factor influencing each variable, and examine the effect of the perceived perspective on their self-efficacy. This study used a cross-sectional survey design with a quantitative approach. There were 284 Indonesian EFL teachers taught in secondary schools chosen using a voluntary sampling technique as the respondents. Data were obtained by employing a Perceptify-ICALL questionnaire with forty items using a six-point Likert’s scaling method (α = .839). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, hierarchical multiple regression, and MANOVA. Results showed that teachers’ perceived perspective was in a very high category, but not for their self-efficacy. The prominent factor influencing their perspective was the support and facilities provided by the school and government in succeeding EFL teaching using ICALL. Whereas the most influencing factor of their self-efficacy was their skills in operating computers and AI. Another finding was the fact that the teachers’ perceived perspective significantly affected teachers’ mastery experience. 2Pratama, Lestari, Kirkgöz & Imaniar: Intelligent Computer-Assisted Language Learning The JALT CALL Journal vol. 20 no.3 This study suggests that Indonesian EFL teachers’ perceived perspective in EFL teaching using ICALL is well constructed, but their efficacy is on the contrary due to lower skills in operating computers and AI-powered devices or programs. Future professional development programs in improving the teachers’ computer and AI-operation skills are suggested to be undertaken as well as bringing the ICALL-based approach to EFL learning.

To successfully interact in a new language, learners must effectively take turns and manage the floor. Expectations and rules for turn-taking can differ between languages, making this more than a question of grammatical proficiency and vocabulary acquisition. In addition, the increased use of videoconferencing software in education and beyond makes learning to manage the floor in virtual spaces a useful skill for everyone, including language learners. To analyze the turn-taking behaviors of first language (L1) speakers of Japanese using English in videoconferencing interactions, three classes of first-year university students with intermediate level English skills were selected to have their in-class videoconferencing discussions recorded. Three of the recorded discussions were selected and analyzed to identify turn-taking behaviors and to analyze the techniques that influenced the speakers’ ability to succeed. Participants were observed to leave long gaps between speakers at turn transitions and rarely extended discussion topics to include multiple turns per speaker. There were three behaviors that were observed that helped some participants to reduce the gap between speakers. Clearly marking the end of a turn, energetic use of verbal backchannels, and comfort with unintentional overlap all seemed to be correlated with improved transition speed. Increased use of questions did lead to some topics being discussed beyond a single turn per speaker, but the difference was relatively small.

As emerging technologies rapidly evolve, language teachers in the 21st century face an increasing challenge in determining how to integrate them in their language classrooms. A crucial element for successful technology integration is for teachers to hold sufficient proficiency in technology and adopt active attitudes towards their own professional learning. While an abundance of learning resources is currently available, much still remains unknown about what language teachers are doing to enhance their knowledge and skills in technology. The current study therefore examined how in-service language teachers are learning about technology for instructional purposes and their reasoning behind using specific learning methods. Data were collected through an initial wide-scale questionnaire (n=179), in-depth interviews (n=19), and a post-interview questionnaire (n=19). The findings suggest that the language teachers were relying on a wide variety of online materials and tools—searching the web, reading mailing lists, connecting with teachers via social media, and watching videos, among others. Due to reasons related to finances, geographical locations, time, prevailing social situations, and attitudes, they appeared to be choosing to use informal and self-directed modes of learning over formal teacher training courses. Based on the findings, the current challenges facing language teachers who are learning about technology were identified, and implications for future technology preparation in language teacher education are suggested.

The notion that digital games can be effectively employed as tools for learning and teaching has steadily been gaining traction among educational theorists and researchers, with numerous empirical studies pointing to the potential benefits of games for skill and knowledge development. However, a solid understanding of learners’ attitudes and concerns regarding this relatively novel pedagogical approach is also necessary for effective implementation in formal learning contexts. It cannot be taken for granted that today’s learners will accept game-based approaches simply because these learners tend to be more accustomed to advanced technologies than those of previous generations. The aim of this mixed-methods empirical study is thus to help elucidate learner beliefs and attitudes regarding digital game-based language learning with survey data collected from 112 undergraduate student participants at a large public university in Japan. The findings reveal that learners generally held positive attitudes towards DGBLL before taking part in any intervention and, after playing a cooperative digital game over six weekly sessions, reported stronger positive attitudes towards this pedagogical approach. In contrast to the results of earlier studies, gender was not found to be a statistically significant predictor of attitude towards DGBLL in this sample. However, two other demographic factors, namely information technology literacy and digital gaming experience, correlated positively with several measures of attitude. The learners considered enjoyment to be the most important advantage of using digital games for language learning. However, many also expressed doubts regarding the effectiveness of game-based language education.

The purpose of this research is to analyze whether university students would be willing to engage in distance foreign language (FL) course design, and if the knowledge of their preferences could be used to present guidelines for course designers. Student engagement is seen as crucial to graduates’ achievement in HE, especially in online courses, yet there are no studies examining student voice in distance FL course design or curriculum delivery in the context of HE in Poland and very few international ones. The study identified five dimensions and feedback as the basic constructs to analyze students’ preferences about learning design of distance foreign language courses. The research study design is quantitative with descriptive and correlational method. Data were gathered from HE students (n = 626) studying in Poland. The results show statistically significant differences regarding students’ gender, age and academic level. The findings suggest that the learning paths in a FL distance course in HE should be created by taking into account the language skills students want to practice, students’ main language, gender identity, learning communities, and age. The latter can influence students’ willingness to co-design the course, the course content, and the type of interactions.

English as a Foreign Language (EFL) is crucial in most secondary schools within the EU and many other schools worldwide. Some teachers are integrating Online Community Projects (OCPs) into their curricula to provide a means of communication that motivates learning and incites learner-centred methods. This collaborative Action Research study reports on the perspectives and experiences of EFL teachers teaching in secondary schools in three European countries: the north and south of Italy, the east of Norway and the west of Sweden. Data were collected from six EFL teachers: four were users of OCPs, while the other two had chosen not to use them. Methods used to gather data were individual faceto-face interviews and open-question questionnaires. The results showed that all teachers perceived that working on OCPs could benefit professional development and their students’ language skills. The choice not to use OCPs was related to the lack of time and difficulties in assessment. This research provides a lens through which to examine the advantages and disadvantages of integrating OCPs into the EFL curricula. It has implications for teachers wishing to include OCPs in their curriculum.

Much of the research on the effectiveness of written corrective feedback (WCF) scope and strategies has been (quasi-)experimental, generating results peripherally related to authentic classroom contexts. Underpinned by a multidimensional conceptual framework of student engagement with WCF, this classroombased study has explored the scope and strategies used by the teacher regarding WCF. It also investigated how two ESL university students behaviorally, cognitively, and affectively engaged with the scope and strategies of computer-mediated teacher WCF to improve the accuracy of the second draft of the introduction and methodology sections of their research proposal. Data from multiple sources, including students’ written texts, screencasts that captured students’ revision process, stimulated recall, and semi-structured interviews were analyzed. The findings revealed that the scope of computer-mediated teacher WCF was comprehensive, and the most frequently employed feedback strategy was direct WCF, often accompanied by metalinguistic explanation. Behaviorally, the students improved their drafts’ accuracy based on such feedback; however, their cognitive engagement was mediocre. Although affectively the students often experienced positive reactions toward feedback strategies, they felt overwhelmed by a large number of comments.

With the rapid development of technology, online writing instruction (OWI) has become an integral part of all writing instruction. However, one of the challenges encountered by OWI instructors has been to select an appropriate online learning platform or learning management system (LMS) aligning with writing pedagogies. This study developed a small-scale fully online writing course – a college-level English composition MOOC using Google Classroom, a free and easy-to-use online learning platform, to (a) explore the potential of using Google Classroom in teaching composition MOOCs and (b) examine students’ learning effectiveness in the composition MOOC. Participants were 33 EFL students who learnt knowledge and skills needed to write a literature review assignment in this 6-week, theme-based composition MOOC. Results demonstrated that the composition MOOC was well received by the participants and was effective in teaching writing given that students made improvement on both knowledge of citation practices and final written product. Specifically, features of Google Classroom allowed teachers to create different types of learning materials, assignments, and assessment that make online writing courses engaging and interactive. Most importantly, its collaborative features, such as file sharing and the real-time communication technology, empowered teachers to give timely feedback and create communicative activities that writing pedagogies value, making Google Classroom a good platform for OWI.