Enhancing Vocabulary, Grammar, and Discourse Competence Through AI-Supported Microlearning among EFL Learners: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Bahremand, Ali; Fatehi Rad, Neda; Jalali, Vale

doi:10.22049/jalda.2026.31523.1980

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

¹ PhD Candidate in TEFL, Islamic Azad University, Kerman Branch, Kerman, Iran

² Associate Professor of English Language Teaching, Department of English Language, Faculty of Humanity Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Kerman Branch, Kerman, Iran

³ Assistant Professor of English Language Teaching, Department of English Language, Faculty of Humanity Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Kerman Branch, Kerman, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22049/jalda.2026.31523.1980

Abstract

Recent research has examined artificial intelligence (AI) and microlearning as separate instructional approaches. However, their combined effect on the development of core language systems remains underexplored. This quasi-experimental study examined the impact of AI-supported microlearning on Iranian EFL learners’ vocabulary, grammatical, and discourse competence. Accordingly, a total of 60 intermediate learners recruited from Tanin Language Institute in Kerman, Iran, participated in the study and were assigned to an experimental (n = 30) and a control group (n = 30). Over an eight-week instructional period, the experimental group engaged in AI-supported microlearning activities, while the control group received conventional instruction. Data were collected using vocabulary and grammar achievement tests, as well as a discourse production task administered at both pre-test and post-test stages. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was employed in order to control for initial differences between the groups. The results indicated that learners in the experimental group significantly outperformed those in the control group across all three variables, with large effect sizes. These results suggest that integrating adaptive AI-based feedback with microlearning may support the development of multiple language systems in EFL contexts. Pedagogical implications for integrating AI-supported microlearning into EFL instruction, as well as directions for future research, are presented.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Technology in language learning and teaching

Article Title [Persian]

ارتقای واژگان، دستور زبان و گفتمان از طریق یادگیری خردِ مبتنی بر هوش مصنوعی در میان زبان آموزان ایرانی: یک مطالعه شبه‌آزمایشی

Authors [Persian]

علی بهره مند ¹
دکتر ندا فاتحی راد ²
دکتر واله جلالی ³

¹ دانشجوی دکتری آموزش زبان انگلیسی، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، واحد کرمان، کرمان، ایران

² دانشیار آموزش زبان انگلیسی، ، بخش زبان انگلیسی، دانشکده ادبیات و علوم انسانی دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، واحد کرمان، کرمان، ایران

³ استادیار آموزش زبان انگلیسی، بخش زبان انگلیسی، دانشکده ادبیات و علوم انسانی، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، واحد کرمان، کرمان، ایران

Abstract [Persian]

پژوهش‌های اخیر، هوش مصنوعی و یادگیری خرد را به‌عنوان دو رویکرد آموزشی مستقل مورد بررسی قرار داده‌اند. با این حال، تأثیر ترکیبی این دو بر توسعه زیر مهارت های زبان همچنان کمتر مورد توجه قرار گرفته است. مطالعه شبه‌آزمایشی حاضر با هدف بررسی تأثیر یادگیری خردِ مبتنی بر هوش مصنوعی بر ارتقا واژگانی، دستوری و گفتمانی زبان‌آموزان ایرانیِ انجام شد. بدین منظور، در مجموع 60 زبان‌آموز در سطح متوسط از مؤسسه زبان طنین در شهر کرمان انتخاب شده و به‌طور مساوی در دو گروه آزمایشی (30 نفر) و کنترل (30 نفر) قرار گرفتند. در طول یک دوره آموزشی هشت‌هفته‌ای، گروه آزمایشی در فعالیت‌های یادگیری خردِ پشتیبانی‌شده با هوش مصنوعی مشارکت داشت، در حالی که گروه کنترل آموزش‌های متداول را دریافت کرد. داده‌ها از طریق آزمون‌های پیشرفت واژگان و دستور زبان، به‌همراه یک تکلیف تولید گفتمان، در دو مرحله پیش‌آزمون و پس‌آزمون گردآوری شدند. به‌منظور کنترل تفاوت‌های اولیه بین گروه‌ها، از تحلیل کوواریانس استفاده شد. یافته‌ها نشان داد که زبان‌آموزان گروه آزمایشی در هر سه متغیر مورد بررسی، به‌طور معناداری عملکرد بهتری نسبت به گروه کنترل داشتند و اندازه اثرها نیز بزرگ گزارش شد. این نتایج حاکی از آن است که ادغام بازخورد تطبیقی مبتنی بر هوش مصنوعی با یادگیری خرد می‌تواند از توسعه هم‌زمان زیر مهارت های زبان حمایت کند. در پایان، دلالت‌های آموزشی برای به‌کارگیری یادگیری خردِ مبتنی بر هوش مصنوعی در آموزش زبان انگلیسی و همچنین پیشنهادهایی برای پژوهش‌های آتی ارائه شده است.

Keywords [Persian]

یادگیری خردِ مبتنی بر هوش مصنوعی
هوش مصنوعی در یادگیری زبان
واژگان
دستور زبان
گفتمان

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Journal of Applied Linguistics and Applied Literature: Dynamics and Advances

Enhancing Vocabulary, Grammar, and Discourse Competence Through AI-Supported Microlearning among EFL Learners: A Quasi-Experimental Study

References

References

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 26 September 2026

Enhancing Vocabulary, Grammar, and Discourse Competence Through AI-Supported Microlearning among EFL Learners: A Quasi-Experimental Study

References

References

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript Available Online from 26 September 2026

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 26 September 2026