A Literature Review on Generative Artificial Intelligence Applications in Foreign Language Education

This literature review explores the application of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in foreign language education. By synthesizing current empirical studies, this qualitative analysis identifies patterns related to research design, participant demographics, fields of study, and types of GenAI tools utilized. The review encompasses 30 empirical studies published between October 2023 and October 2024, sourced from the Web of Science Core Collection. Findings reveal that the majority were published in 2024 (83.3%), with research methods spanning quantitative, qualitative, and mixed approaches. Most studies were short-term, with only 20.0% lasting over five weeks, focusing on writing instruction, teacher training, and teacher-student rapport. Additionally, the review provides a comprehensive overview of foreign language educational contexts in five main categories, namely user perceptions (30.0%), language learning applications (23.3%), assessment and text-based studies (23.3%), teacher preparation (20.0%), and affective factors (3.3%), offering valuable insights for future research directions.