How Do AI Tools Help Improve English Reading Skills?
- Kyle Larson
- Jan 6
- 3 min read
Artificial intelligence is increasingly used in language learning, but when it comes to improving English reading skills, the real question is not whether AI can help — it’s how it helps, and under what conditions it actually leads to growth.
Research on reading development shows that progress depends less on the number of activities students complete and more on appropriate text difficulty, feedback, and sustained engagement over time. AI can support those conditions — when it is used intentionally.
Where AI Can Support English Reading Skills Development
When designed well, AI-based tools can assist reading development in several evidence-aligned ways.
1. Matching students to appropriately challenging texts
Reading research consistently shows that students make the most progress when texts are neither too easy nor too difficult. The National Reading Panel emphasizes the importance of instructional level texts for comprehension growth (NICHD, 2000). AI can support this by analyzing linguistic features such as sentence complexity, vocabulary load, and cohesion to better align texts with student ability.
Source:National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Report of the National Reading Panel (2000)
2. Providing timely, specific feedback
Meta-analyses on learning consistently show that feedback is one of the highest-impact influences on student achievement (Hattie, 2009). AI systems can deliver immediate feedback during or after reading tasks, helping students notice misunderstandings while the reading experience is still fresh.
Source:Hattie, J. Visible Learning (2009)
3. Tracking patterns over time
Longitudinal progress monitoring is strongly associated with improved literacy outcomes, especially for multilingual learners. AI systems can track trends across weeks and months — something that is difficult to do consistently with manual systems alone.
Source: OECD. AI in Education: Challenges and Opportunities
Where AI Alone Is Not Enough
Despite these advantages, research also shows that technology alone does not guarantee reading growth.
Large-scale reviews of educational technology indicate that tools are most effective when they are embedded within clear instructional structures and when students understand the purpose of their learning activities (OECD, 2015).
For long-term multilingual learners in particular, persistent stagnation is often linked to:
Unclear learning goals
Limited opportunities for reflection
A lack of visibility into progress over time
Without those elements, AI-supported reading can increase activity without improving outcomes.
Source:
OECD. Students, Computers and Learning (2015)
Why Visibility and Ownership Matter for Reading Growth
Contemporary reading research emphasizes that comprehension and language development are cumulative processes that depend on sustained engagement and strategic effort (Castles, Rastle, & Nation, 2018). Students benefit when they can see where they are, what they are working toward, and how daily reading contributes to long-term growth.
Source: Castles, A., Rastle, K., & Nation, K. Ending the Reading Wars (2018) https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-018-0391-6
AI is most effective when it reinforces these conditions rather than operating invisibly in the background.
How ACE Uses AI to Support Reading Progress
ACE by AIR Language was designed with these research findings in mind.
Instead of treating AI as a replacement for structure, ACE uses AI to support:
Personalized reading level alignment
Ongoing progress tracking
Clear connections between effort, reflection, and growth
These insights are paired with a structured notebook system that helps students externalize their thinking, track their reading habits, and reflect on progress over time — practices consistently associated with improved learning outcomes.
The AI supports analysis and personalization.The notebook supports ownership and awareness.
Together, they address a gap many reading tools leave unresolved.
The Bottom Line
Research supports the use of AI in reading instruction when it:
Aligns students with appropriate texts
Provides timely feedback
Makes progress visible over time
For schools serving English learners — especially long-term multilingual learners — the goal is not simply more technology, but better alignment between tools, habits, and student ownership.
You can learn more about ACE here:
Additional resources and guidance will be published soon.
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