Work

Digital competencies in the EFL classroom: What is (or isn't) part of the curriculum for pre‐service primary EFL teachers at Spanish universities?

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The digital age has revolutionized many aspects of citizens' everyday lives, including educational systems, as Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have been integrated into the curriculum at all educational levels. In the case of English as a foreign language (EFL), many studies support that ICTs contribute positively to the development of linguistic competence and foreign language acquisition. However, there is less literature regarding EFL and digital competencies in reference to training for pre‐service primary teachers. This study analyzes ICT and digital content in the curriculum for EFL in Primary Teaching Degrees across 39 Spanish public universities. The objective was to identify which competencies in the DigCompEdu framework are part of the course syllabi to support EFL teaching and learning. This research follows a document analysis method to identify what is (or isn't) being done at Higher Education Institutions regarding EFL primary pre‐service teacher training. The main findings shed light on the degree to which Spanish university curriculums are coherent with 21st century digital competencies, and the need to redesign curricula to foster meaningful EFL acquisition with the support and benefits derived from the inclusion of new technologies in the curriculum.

Source: The Curriculum Journal

DOI: 10.1002/curj.70053

Authors: María Felicidad Tabuenca Cuevas, Francisco Pradas Esteban, María Ribes Lafoz

Institution: University of Alicante

Language: English

Topic: Digital literacy in education

Subfield: Information Systems

Field: Computer Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,430