As part of the human-computer interaction (HCI) that artificial intelligence has, it has a specific effect on developing critical thinking skills, which is what this study is looking at. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of AI friend apps on EFoLLe (English foreign language learners) interactions with technology. The primary focus of this paper is on a new artificial intelligence-based immersion teaching method for university-level English. Students English proficiency and CT are the primary goals of this course. This study employs mixed methods research design using an online survey and classroom observation. Both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis techniques helped researchers to understand deeply. Still, little research was used to look at the survey and how people acted while they were learning how to use AI to improve CT skills. The participants in this paper were polled using an online survey. A total of 453 people participated in the survey. According to the outcomes of the study, AI friends to enhance students critical thinking abilities has a positive impact among the participants. Because AI-based instruction promotes students trust, self-confidence, open-mindedness, and maturity in English, it can help them improve their critical thinking skills. This is because critical thinking skills are the foundation for 21^st-century skills, and AI-based instruction helps students learn these skills. This study helped AI-based instruction because it helps nonnative English students become more trusting, self-confident, open-minded, and mature in English. It also helps them learn the CT skills that are the foundation of critical thinking, so they can learn new skills in the 21^stcentury.

In the educational setting, artificial intelligence (AI) technology, notably chatbots, has made substantial improvements in English learning. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of using the Artificial Intelligence Virtual Dream Friend and John English Boot applications on learning English in the 5.0 revolution era in English courses for first-semester students at university. The assessment method used is a quantitative research method and research design (quasi-experiment design). Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that the results of the comparison test showed that My Virtual Dream Friend and John English Bot were both effective for use as computer tutoring in English courses and also increased interest in learning English in the 5.0 revolution era compared to previous conventional methods. The outcomes of this study might be used to direct future research into utilizing chatbots outside of the classroom as learning companions, and educators could use them to adapt evaluation and feedback procedures.

Given the significance of English in the global world, English language teaching in Bangladesh has become subject to a supreme concern in maintaining economic growth and developing a skilled workforce. In this article, several barriers have been discussed based on a critical analysis of published materials. This review article covers several key issues such as the status of English in the country; English in education policies; factors affecting the implementation of communicative language teaching curriculum, method, and materials in Bangladesh; validity of the current assessment and its washback effect on English language teaching in Bangladesh; and current situation of teachers’ professional development. The article concluded with language policy and planning implications for policymakers, curriculum and material developers, public exams’ test-setters, and future English teacher training programmes, keeping the overall development of ELT in Bangladesh in mind.

This paper aims at exploring the issues related to implementing a formative assessment model namely School-Based Assessment (SBA) at secondary schools in Bangladesh. A qualitative study employing interviews with English teachers of grade 8 and the head teachers and FGDs with students from twelve secondary schools was conducted. Moreover, field notes and document analysis provided valuable data. The findings from the qualitative content analysis showed a dismal condition of implementing SBA in Bangladesh. Some distinct reasons posed challenges to implementing SBA. These are teachers’ insufficient orientation towards SBA, teachers’ negative attitude towards SBA, teachers’ heavy workloads, large class size, large contents of syllabus, no reflection of the marks of SBA in public examinations, lack of honesty and fairness in teachers, lack of validity and reliability of SBA as an assessment tool, poor socio-economic conditions of teachers, and the absence of monitoring and supervision by concerned authorities. This study also provides a comprehensive understanding of how teachers conceptualize and apply strategies of SBA in their classrooms, along with some recommendations and, hence, bears implications for the policy makers, teacher trainers, and other stakeholders involved in the Bangladeshi school education system and elsewhere.

The objective of this systematic review is to present a critical overview of current studies to explore issues such as the factors causing EFL learners’ poor oral performance and the teaching and assessment methods of oral English communication skills (OECSs) for developing tertiary level learners’ OECSs in EFL contexts. For this purpose, 51 empirical studies of the 2907 retrieved from SpringerLink, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and the Google Scholar database that were published between 2010 and 2019 in different EFL contexts were analyzed. This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and was analyzed thematically using NVIVO 12, followed by the Mendeley reference management software. Studies that were conducted in native English contexts and non-empirical studies were excluded from consideration for this study. The findings showed that the environmental factor was the primary factor for learners’ poor OECS performance in EFL contexts. For the method of teaching and assessment of learners’ OECSs, the use of technology is rapidly increasing in different EFL contexts. This study suggests some implications for both future researchers and academics for developing EFL learners’ oral English communication skills dealing with environmental, psychological, and linguistic factors along with teaching and learning resources at the tertiary level in EFL contexts.

Purpose: Sustainability has globally become a mantra to address complex and unprecedented survival, social, political and peace issues. Higher education institutions bear responsibility to address them. This paper aims to explore barriers that Pakistani public universities (PPUs) face in embedding sustainability at their campuses. This paper also offers potential opportunities to take initiatives to minimize barriers and move towards a sustainable future. Design/methodology/approach: This paper is based on case study approach, and data were gathered through interviews and documents. Interviews with 11 academic administrators were conducted to gain deeper understanding on issues of governance and its influence on sustainability. Data were analysed using thematic analysis that created thematic map/model. Findings: Key findings include, firstly, that majority of participants think poor governance is the biggest issue in demoting sustainability. This barrier causes an array of interconnected barriers. Secondly, participants strongly associate unsustainability with lack of institutional change and training. Finally, lack of resources was the most frequently articulated barrier. Findings provided a rationale to propose suggestions to promote sustainability. Originality/value: Developed countries are leaders in promoting sustainability, whereas developing countries are laggards. Pakistan, a developing country, does not have substantial research to reveal the barriers PPUs are facing to promote sustainability. This paper is an attempt to address research gap in identifying barriers to sustainability.