From Corrector to Guide: The Evolution of Teacher Feedback Practices in AI-Enhanced EFL Writing Classrooms

English as a Foreign Language (EFL) writing instruction is pivotal in cultivating students’ comprehensive English competence. Traditionally, teacher feedback has predominantly functioned within a "corrector" paradigm, concentrating on rectifying surface-level linguistic errors. The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) is instigating profound transformations in EFL writing pedagogy, catalyzing a pivotal evolution in teacher feedback practices from "corrector" to "guide." By delivering foundational, efficient, and personalized feedback, AI emancipates teachers from the labor-intensive burden of mechanical grading, thereby reorienting their focus towards guiding students in content deepening, logical structuring, and critical thinking enhancement. This article delineates this evolutionary trajectory, examining how AI empowers teachers through personalized guidance, interactive scaffolding, and diversified feedback modalities. It further investigates the essential capacity building and strategic recalibrations required for teachers to thrive in the "guide" role, with the ultimate aim of fostering the holistic development of students’ writing capabilities.