Creative and Critical Integration of Artificial Intelligence
in EFL Learning
The increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in education is reshaping language teaching and learning, creating new conditions for pedagogical innovation while simultaneously raising significant ethical and educational questions. This paper presents a values-oriented pedagogical approach to the creative and critical integration of AI in the teaching of English as a Foreign Language (EFL), illustrated through the design and classroom implementation of the lesson “Odyssey 2.0: Values Recharged.” AI is conceptualized as a pedagogical tool embedded in a coherent educational approach that supports linguistic development, critical digital literacy, creativity, and ethical awareness through constructivist, experiential, inquiry-based, and reflective approaches to learning. The lesson design integrates multimodal learning activities, including digital storytelling, collaborative inquiry, role-play, debate, and creative production, within a learner-centered, values-based educational focus. The paper discusses implications for curriculum design, teacher development, and assessment, while addressing ethical challenges related to bias, dependency, and data protection. It concludes that meaningful AI integration, when guided by clear pedagogical principles and educational values, can enrich EFL learning and contribute to the development of critically aware and socially responsible learners.
Key words: Artificial Intelligence Pedagogy; EFL Pedagogy; Critical Digital Literacy; Values-Based Learning.