Digital Tools and Technology-Enhanced Language Learning

A special issue of Education Sciences (ISSN 2227-7102).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 16 August 2026 | Viewed by 981

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA 24450, USA
Interests: computer science; novel digital educational technologies

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Integrating digital tools and emerging technologies into language education has significantly reshaped how learners acquire new languages and how educators design and deliver instruction. As digital transformation accelerates across all levels of education, understanding the pedagogical, cognitive, and technological implications of technology-enhanced language learning (TELL) has become more critical than ever. This evolving landscape opens up opportunities for personalized, accessible, and engaging learning experiences while posing new challenges in equity, assessment, and instructional design.

This Special Issue aims to explore the role of digital technologies in enhancing language learning experiences across formal, informal, and hybrid educational environments. We invite contributions critically examining innovative practices, theoretical frameworks, empirical studies, and technological developments supporting language acquisition and teaching. The scope includes both synchronous and asynchronous learning contexts, from K-12 to higher education and lifelong learning.

Suggested themes include (but are not limited to):

  • Mobile-assisted language learning (MALL)
  • Artificial intelligence and chatbots in language instruction
  • Gamified and immersive environments (e.g., VR/AR)
  • Online and hybrid language learning platforms
  • Digital assessment and feedback systems
  • Adaptive and personalized learning technologies
  • Social media and online communities in language practice
  • Teacher training and professional development in TELL

We welcome interdisciplinary submissions and studies that offer insights into practical, inclusive, and scalable technology-enhanced language learning.

Dr. Sherif Abdelhamid
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Education Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • technology-enhanced language learning (TELL)
  • innovative digital tools
  • pedagogical integration

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

21 pages, 1075 KB  
Article
A Contextualized Needs Analysis of Rural Foreign Language Teachers in Southern Spain: Linguistic Competence as a Primary Professional Demand
by Juan Jose Magana-Redondo, Elena Bárcena Madera and Timothy Read
Educ. Sci. 2026, 16(3), 425; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16030425 - 11 Mar 2026
Viewed by 343
Abstract
This article analyses the professional needs of foreign language teachers in rural territories, with a primary analytical focus on teachers’ linguistic competence and how it is sustained over time. Using a mixed-methods needs analysis informed by Participatory Action Research, data were obtained from [...] Read more.
This article analyses the professional needs of foreign language teachers in rural territories, with a primary analytical focus on teachers’ linguistic competence and how it is sustained over time. Using a mixed-methods needs analysis informed by Participatory Action Research, data were obtained from questionnaires, interviews, and classroom observations in rural Andalusia (southern Spain). The results foreground persistent challenges in maintaining a high level of command of the target language—especially oral fluency and pronunciation—within linguistically isolated professional environments. Methodological and technological issues are reported as contextual conditions that shape (and sometimes constrain) teachers’ opportunities to develop and enact linguistic competence, including multi-grade and multicultural classrooms, limited time for peer collaboration, and uneven student access to devices and connectivity at home. Overall, the findings point to the need for localized, flexible, and participatory professional development that prioritizes teachers’ ongoing linguistic development while addressing contextual barriers in rural schools. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Tools and Technology-Enhanced Language Learning)
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