AI-Empowered Innovation in Graduate English Teaching: An Exploratory Study Based on Textile and Apparel Institutes

Graduate English education is now facing an urgent need to shift from “knowledge transmission” to “ability cultivation” and “quality enhancement”. This study focuses on the English teaching for graduate students in textile and apparel Institutions, taking into account the unique disciplinary characteristics and major needs of such institutions. Guided by the artificial intelligence (AI)-empowered 5E instructional model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate), it explores practical pathways to enhance graduate students’ ability to use English for professional expression, academic communication, and cross-cultural interaction—particularly in the context of telling Chinese clothing culture stories to the world. By employing case analysis, the study implements the specific application of the AI-empowered 5E teaching model, aiming to facilitate the synergistic development of students’ language proficiency, professional competence, and cross-cultural communication skills.