EFL Instructors' Digital Competencies and Their Perceptions of AI Integration in Language Teaching

As a result of rapid technological advances and shifting expectations in education, integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) has gained importance, particularly in English Language Teaching (ELT). This mixed-methods study explores the relationship between EFL instructors' digital competencies and their perceptions of using AI in instructional settings. Data were collected from 51 EFL instructors at preparatory schools of four state universities using the AI and English Language Teaching Scale (Edmett et al., 2023) and the Teachers' Digital Competencies Scale (Ergül & Taşar, 2023), along with semi-structured interviews. Quantitative findings revealed that instructors with higher digital competence held more positive views on AI use in teaching, while those with lower competence expressed reservations. Thematic analysis showed that AI integration presents both opportunities and challenges. The study concludes that enhancing instructors' digital competencies may foster more positive attitudes and effective AI integration, emphasizing the need for targeted professional development.