EFL bağlamında dijital okuryazarlık: Irak'taki öğrenciler için faydalar ve engellerin keşfi

Digital literacy plays a significant role in this modern day of the educational world, especially among EFL learners. It analyzes precisely how the use of digital literacy makes a difference in the academic performances of students in Duhok, Iraq, who study English as a foreign language, based on their statements related to the integration of digital tools into language learning. In this research, the quantitative research design has been followed, where 100 EFL learners, primarily Kurdish speakers, have been conferred with surveys in order to assess their digital literacy level, high rating language proficiency, and experiences related to digital resources. It was found that those learners with higher levels of digital literacy are capable of engaging more with authentic materials for better learning with interactions and communication in real time. However, inaccessible technologies, limited training of small amounts, and poor learning environments hamper the effective use of digital tools in a learning environment. These inequities further reinforce our argument for targeted interventions to focus on building up digital literacy while ensuring access to technologies. This study highlights the role of digital literacy in language acquisition and informs the way to effective inclusive educational methods. A promising avenue for future research is long-term changes in digital literacy and the testing of particular digital tools.