The Effectiveness of AI-Driven Translation Technologies in Mediating Cultural Understanding: A Case Study of English Language Teaching Practices in Libyan Higher Education

Abstract

This qualitative case study investigates the effectiveness of AI-driven translation technologies in mediating cultural understanding within English Language Teaching (ELT) contexts in Libyan higher education. Drawing on data from semi-structured interviews with 55 ELT instructors, 24 classroom observations across six universities, and document analysis of student translation outputs and institutional curricula, the study reveals a dualistic role of artificial intelligence in language pedagogy. While AI-powered tools such as Google Translate and Microsoft Translator significantly enhance lexical accessibility and reduce language anxiety among learners, their capacity to convey cultural nuance remains critically limited. Findings indicate that algorithmic biases, rooted in Anglo-American linguistic corpora, result in the systematic flattening of cultural meaning and misrepresentation of idioms, humor, politeness strategies, and socio-pragmatic cues, thereby reinforcing a form of digital linguistic imperialism. Students’ uncritical reliance on AI outputs has fostered a “copy-paste culture,” undermining opportunities for intercultural reflection and eroding pragmatic awareness. However, the study also identifies transformative potential when AI tools are pedagogically repurposed through “teaching against the machine” strategies. A subset of instructors successfully used AI-generated mistranslations as pedagogical moments to foster critical cultural awareness, metacognitive reflection, and intercultural dialogue. Despite this potential, widespread implementation is hindered by systemic barriers, including the absence of institutional policies, lack of professional development, curricular gaps, and infrastructural challenges. The research concludes that AI technologies are not inherently facilitative or obstructive to cultural understanding; rather, their effectiveness is contingent upon intentional pedagogical mediation, critical digital literacy, and context-sensitive integration. The study calls for curriculum reforms, ethical AI integration frameworks, and teacher training programs that position AI as a scaffold, not a substitute for intercultural communicative competence in ELT contexts.