ENHANCING METACOGNITIVE AWARENESS THROUGH DIGITAL TOOLS IN ESL CLASSROOMS

Abstract

The digital age has brought about radical changes in educational practices, especially in the teaching of English as a second language (ESL). Developing students’ metacognitive awareness, that is, understanding and regulating their own thinking and learning processes, has become an important goal of modern pedagogy. This article examines how new digital tools can improve students' metacognitive thinking awareness in an ESL context. It comprehensively analyzes the role of artificial intelligence (AI), mobile applications, and online learning platforms in developing self-analysis, self-monitoring, and independent learning. Practical suggestions are provided for integrating metacognitive strategies into technologically advanced language learning environments