Journal Article

Exploring critical AI literacy in language education: A case study

Shapiro, Ben R., Liao, Yin‐Chan, Harris, Kyla, Tacelosky, Kathleen, Sue Kasun, G.

2025

Overview

The emergence of generative AI (genAI) tools has called into question traditional roles of language education professors. However, existing research has yet to comprehensively examine the opportunities and challenges these tools present in language education, particularly from the perspectives of language educators and learners. This article presents a case study, conducted in a university Intermediate Spanish class with 11 students in spring 2024, and explored students' experiences of genAI applications in language learning. Using data drawn from course assignments, discussions, and surveys, we surface several themes including how students characterize relations between genAI and creativity, ethics, and language education. While genAI tools sparked creative engagement and promoted awareness of language construction, they also revealed gaps in reliability, emphasizing the need for careful, informed use and professors' guidance. We also use our analysis to discuss several pedagogical implications that further contextual and responsive uses of genAI in language learning to inform research and practice as well as next steps to expand this study.

• Publisher: American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
• Subject: Algorithms / All languages, LANGUAGES / Artificial intelligence / Artificial intelligence literacy / Case studies / Chatbots / Classroom Communication / College faculty / College students / Computer Literacy / Computer Science Education / Creativity / Critical Literacy / critical literacy, COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION and CLASSROOM DISCOURSE / Culture / Curricula / Digital literacy / Distance learning / Education / Educational Facilities Improvement / Educational Needs / Educational Practices / Educational Strategies / Educational Technology / Educational Trends / Electronic Learning / Elementary Secondary Education / Emotional Intelligence / Ethics / Foreign language learning / Generative artificial intelligence / Grammar / Influence of Technology / Instructional Materials / Intelligent Tutoring Systems / intercultural awareness and competence, CULTURE / Language / Language acquisition / Language instruction / Language Skills / Learner Engagement / Learning / Literacy / Literature reviews / Moral education / Pedagogy / Reliability / Spanish language / Spanish, LANGUAGES / Students / Teachers / Teaching / TECHNOLOGY, HIGH LEVERAGE TEACHING PRACTICES