BEYOND THE HYPE: AI OUTPERFORMS VR/AR AND GAMIFICATION IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION

Mendekenova A. Aukhadieva Z. Zhanikeyeva D.
22 December 2025 Informing Science Institute

Journal of Information Technology Education: Innovations in Practice
2025 #24 1 - 17 pp.

Aim/Purpose This study aims to identify the most effective digital technology for foreign language education by comparing artificial intelligence (AI), virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), and gamification, using a mixed-methods design and drawing systematic parallels with existing literature. Background Although emerging technologies are often promoted for their pedagogical potential, there is limited evidence on whether teachers’ real-world experiences confirm or challenge these theoretical claims. Methodology A convergent mixed-methods survey was conducted with 154 in-service English and foreign language teachers from 37 countries. Questionnaire data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, composite indices, and item-level measures, while qualitative responses were thematically coded. Both strands were integrated and compared with prior research to assess convergence or divergence between theory and practice. Contribution The study provides an evidence-based comparison of teachers’ perceptions with theoretical expectations, clarifying which technologies deliver proven pedagogical value and which remain primarily motivational or experimental. Findings AI was the most widely adopted (88.3%) and consistently rated highest for skill development, learner autonomy, and workload reduction. Gamification (72.1%) was valued for motivation and engagement, while VR/AR (16.9%) was praised for immersion yet limited by financial and infrastructural barriers. Open-ended responses reinforced these patterns and emphasized AI’s role as a “pedagogical assistant”. Recommendations Teachers and institutions should prioritize AI adoption for scalable, adaptive, for Practitioners and feedback-rich instruction, while employing gamification and VR/AR as supplementary tools for motivation and immersion. Recommendations Future research should test AI’s long-term impact on competence develop-for Researchers ment through experimental and longitudinal designs, and develop sustainable models for VR/AR integration. Impact on Society Findings highlight AI as the most pedagogically effective and scalable technology, informing decisions on teacher training, institutional investment, and digital education policy. Future Research Future research should address ethical concerns surrounding AI, such as plagiarism, over-reliance, and bias, and examine contextual factors that influence adoption across regions and levels of teaching experience. (CC BY-NC 4.0) This article is licensed to you under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. When you copy and redistribute this paper in full or in part, you need to provide proper attribution to it to ensure that others can later locate this work (and to ensure that others do not accuse you of plagiarism). You may (and we encourage you to) adapt, remix, transform, and build upon the material for any non-commercial purposes. This license does not permit you to use this material for commercial purposes.

artificial intelligence , digital technology , foreign language education , gamification platforms , virtual and augmented reality

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Kazakh-British Technical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Almaty Technological University, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Kazakh-British Technical University
Almaty Technological University

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