Exploring AI Literacy Self-Efficacy among Pre-Service EFL Teachers: A Case Study in the Vietnamese Context

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54855/ijte.26643
Citations

Keywords:

pre-service teachers, AI literacy, EFL, teacher education

Abstract

This case study aims to explore Vietnamese pre-service EFL teachers' awareness of AI literacy, their AI self-efficacy, and developmental needs. Using an explanatory mixed-methods approach, data were collected through a questionnaire administered to 85 pre-service EFL teachers and follow-up interviews with 08 of them at a public university offering initial teacher education in central Vietnam. The findings show that these pre-service teachers were generally familiar with the concept of AI literacy, well-aware of its role in EFL instruction, and strongly supported the inclusion of formal AI literacy training in teacher education programs. In addition, they perceived self-efficacy of AI literacy to be moderate, particularly in dimensions such as a human-centered mindset and AI application. However, these pre-service teachers still needed more structured, practice-oriented support to develop their AI competence, with a preferred mode of blended training. These findings can provide insights into pre-service teachers’ perceptions of their self-efficacy in AI-assisted language education and inform the design and delivery of targeted AI literacy training for teacher education programs.

Author Biographies

  • Pham Thi Thai Ha, University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Hue University

    Pham Thi Thai Ha is a BA student majoring in English Language Teaching at the Faculty of English, University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Hue University. She is now an English teacher at a secondary school in Da Nang City, Vietnam. This study is part of her BA thesis under the supervision of Ms. Cao Thi Xuan Lien.

  • Cao Thi Xuan Lien, University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Hue University

    Ms. Cao Thi Xuan Lien is a lecturer at the Faculty of English, University of Foreign Languages and International Studies, Hue University (HUFLIS). She holds a BA in English Language Teaching from HUFLIS and an MA in TESOL from the University of Hull, UK. She is now a PhD student at The Education University of Hong Kong. Her research interests include technology-assisted language teaching and learning, teacher education, feedback, and AI literacy.

References

Ayanwale, M. A., Adelana, O. P., Molefi, R. R., Adeeko, O., & Ishola, A. M. (2024). Examining artificial intelligence literacy among pre-service teachers for future classrooms. Computers and Education Open, 6, Article 100179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeo.2024.100179

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Chapelle, C. A. (2025). Generative AI as a game changer: Implications for language education. System, 132, 103672. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2025.103672

Chen, L., Chen, P., & Lin, Z. (2020). Artificial intelligence in education: A review. IEEE Access, 8, 75264-75278. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2020.2988510

Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2018). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (3rd ed.). SAGE.

Cukurova, M., & Miao, F. (2024). AI competency framework for teachers. UNESCO Publishing. https://doi.org/10.54675/ZJTE2084

Edmett, A., Ichaporia, N., Crompton, H., & Crichton, R. (2024). Artificial intelligence and English language teaching: Preparing for the future (2nd ed.). British Council. https://doi.org/10.57884/78EA-3C69

Frimpong, E. (2022). Developing pre-service teachers’ artificial intelligence literacy [Master’s thesis, University of Eastern Finland]. UEF eRepository. http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:uef-20221505

Harakchiyska, T., & Vassilev, T. (2024). Pre-service teachers’ perceptions of AI and its implementation in the foreign (English) language classroom. Strategies for Policy in Science & Education, 32(5s), 218–232. https://doi.org/10.53656/str2024-5s-22-pre

Hastomo, T., Mandasari, B., & Widiati, U. (2024). Scrutinizing Indonesian pre-service teachers’ technological knowledge in utilizing AI-powered tools. Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn), 18(4), 1572–1581. https://doi.org/10.11591/edulearn.v18i4.21644

Kim, R. (2025). Generational gap in accepting AI integration in Korean EFL classrooms: Comparing pre-service and in-service teachers within technology acceptance model. Modern English Education, 26, 113–129. https://doi.org/10.18095/meeso.2025.26.1.113

Kohnke, L., Zou, D., Ou, A. W., & Gu, M. M. (2025). Preparing future educators for AI-enhanced classrooms: Insights into AI literacy and integration. Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, 8, 100398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2025.100398

Le, P. T., & Pham, H. T. T. (2021). Using blended learning in teacher training programs: Perspectives of pre-service teachers. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 11(2), 115–115. https://doi.org/10.36941/jesr-2021-0035

Long, D., & Magerko, B. (2020). What is AI literacy? Competencies and design considerations. In Proceedings of the 2020 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (pp. 1–16). https://doi.org/10.1145/3313831.3376727

Lynch, S. M. (2013). Using statistics in social research: A concise approach. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8573-5

Ng, D. T. K., Leung, J. K. L., Chu, S. K. W., & Qiao, M. S. (2021). Conceptualizing AI literacy: An exploratory review. Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, 2, Article 100041. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2021.100041

Pham, M. T., & Cao, T. X. T. (2025). The practice of ChatGPT in English teaching and learning in Vietnam: A systematic review. International Journal of TESOL & Education, 5(1), 50–70. https://doi.org/10.54855/ijte.25513

Pokrivcakova, S. (2023). Pre-service teachers’ attitudes towards artificial intelligence and its integration into EFL teaching and learning. Journal of Language and Cultural Education, 11(3), 100–114. https://doi.org/10.2478/jolace-2023-0031

Sperling, K., Stenberg, C. J., McGrath, C., Åkerfeldt, A., Heintz, F., & Stenliden, L. (2024). In search of artificial intelligence (AI) literacy in teacher education: A scoping review. Computers and Education Open, 6, Article 100169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeo.2024.100169

Taşçı, S., & Tunaz, M. (2024). Opportunities and challenges in AI-assisted language teaching: Perceptions of pre-service EFL teachers. Araştırma ve Deneyim Dergisi, 9(2), 74–83. https://doi.org/10.47214/adeder.1575897

Wang, S., Wang, F., Zhu, Z., Wang, J., Tran, T., & Du, Z. (2024). Artificial intelligence in education: A systematic literature review. Expert Systems With Applications, 252, 124167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2024.124167

Wu, J. G., & Miller, L. (2025). Smart or sweat: The bittersweet journey of teachers’ AI literacy. International Journal of TESOL Studies, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.58304/ijts.250124

Yi, Y. (2021). Establishing the concept of AI literacy: Focusing on competence and purpose. JAHR, 12(2), 353–368. https://doi.org/10.21860/j.12.2.8

Zawacki-Richter, O., Marín, V. I., Bond, M., & Gouverneur, F. (2019). Systematic review of research on artificial intelligence applications in higher education – where are the educators? International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 16, Article 39. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-019-0171-0

Zhai, X., Chu, X., Chai, C. S., Jong, M. S. Y., Istenič, A., Spector, M., Liu, J.-B., Yuan, J., & Li, Y. (2021). A review of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education from 2010 to 2020. Complexity, 2021(1), 8812542. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/8812542

Zhao, L., Wu, X., & Luo, H. (2022). Developing AI literacy for primary and middle school teachers in China: Based on a structural equation modeling analysis. Sustainability, 14(21), Article 14549. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114549

Downloads

Published

15-10-2026

Issue

Section

Research Article

How to Cite

Pham, T. T. H., & Cao, T. X. L. (2026). Exploring AI Literacy Self-Efficacy among Pre-Service EFL Teachers: A Case Study in the Vietnamese Context. International Journal of TESOL & Education, 6(4), 43-62. https://doi.org/10.54855/ijte.26643

How to Cite

Pham, T. T. H., & Cao, T. X. L. (2026). Exploring AI Literacy Self-Efficacy among Pre-Service EFL Teachers: A Case Study in the Vietnamese Context. International Journal of TESOL & Education, 6(4), 43-62. https://doi.org/10.54855/ijte.26643

Similar Articles

1-10 of 193

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.

Most read articles by the same author(s)