Digital platforms for English language teaching in higher education: Methodological strategies for improving academic language skills
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The integration of digital platforms into English for Academic Purposes (EAP) instruction represents a critical response to the evolving demands of higher education, where students must develop sophisticated academic language skills to succeed in reading, writing, and disciplinary communication.As universities worldwide embrace digital transformation, understanding how methodological strategies can leverage these platforms to enhance academic language proficiency has become increasingly urgent.This paper aims to systematically analyze methodological approaches to utilizing digital platforms for improving academic language skills in higher education EAP contexts, examining theoretical foundations, instructional strategies, and the impact of emerging technologies on student learning outcomes.The study employs a comprehensive literature review methodology, synthesizing findings from peer-reviewed research (2019-2024) on academic language development, digital platform integration, and EAP pedagogy.It examines empirical studies, theoretical frameworks, and emerging research on AI applications in academic language instruction.The analysis identifies five key dimensions of effective digital platform integration for academic language development: (1) the foundational role of core academic language skills-including understanding complex grammatical structures, interpreting organizational and metalinguistic cues, and deploying disciplinary vocabulary-in supporting reading comprehension and written summarization; (2) the critical importance of academic vocabulary knowledge, with research demonstrating strong correlations between vocabulary depth, breadth, and reading comprehension outcomes; (3) evidence-based instructional strategies such as reading strategy instruction that significantly improve academic reading comprehension when implemented systematically; (4) the affordances of specific digital platforms and tools-including learning management systems, collaborative writing platforms, and AI-powered applications like ChatGPT-for developing writing proficiency, vocabulary acquisition, and learner autonomy; and (5) the influence of psychological factors-including learner emotions, autonomy, resilience, and teacher well-beingon the effectiveness of technology-mediated academic language instruction.Studies demonstrate that academic vocabulary knowledge explains substantial variance in reading comprehension, while explicit strategy instruction yields significant gains in comprehension outcomes.Emerging research on ChatGPT reveals positive impacts on learner autonomy and motivation when integrated within self-determination theory frameworks.
Source: Гуманитарный научный журнал
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7223524960