A study of the impact of digital competencies on overcoming professional barriers among foreign language teachers in the context of digitalization of Chinese universities

Abstract

This article examines the impact of digital competencies on overcoming professional barriers among foreign language teachers in the context of digitalization of Chinese universities. The research is relevant due to the accelerated introduction of digital technologies into higher education and the need for teachers to adapt to new educational realities. The introduction of the article focuses on the problem of the shortage of digital skills among teachers, which makes it difficult to effectively use innovative teaching methods and requires a revision of traditional approaches in teaching foreign languages. The methods section describes a multidisciplinary approach combining quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. Surveys and interviews with Chinese university professors were conducted, as well as an analysis of statistical data obtained from educational institutions. The use of comparative analysis and correlation research methods has revealed the relationship between the level of digital competence and the success of overcoming professional barriers. The results section demonstrates that increasing digital competencies contributes to improving the quality of the educational process. Among the main results is the establishment of a positive correlation between the level of mastery of digital tools and the ability of teachers to adapt to new educational conditions. It has also been revealed that professional barriers, such as resistance to innovation and technical illiteracy, decrease significantly with the formation of digital skills. Special attention is paid to the analysis of the impact of special educational programs and trainings aimed at improving digital literacy in the educational environment. In the discussion, the authors emphasize that the results of the study are important for the formation of strategies for improving the skills of university teaching staff, emphasizing the need for the systematic introduction of digital technologies into teaching practice. The prospects for further research aimed at studying the impact of digitalization on the methodological and organizational sphere of the educational process are discussed. The work provides practical recommendations on optimizing pedagogical strategies and developing targeted programs to enhance digital competencies, which can contribute to the further development of the educational potential of Chinese universities.