The AI Lang BarCamp: AI for Language Education

I don’t think I am the only one who has been caught by surprise by the rapid development of AI over the last few months. But while my initial reaction was one of amazement and concern, I believe we can profit from exploring how language teachers and learners can use AI technology in effective and ethical ways to support teaching and learning. Since January, I have been part of the ECML-funded project AI for Language Education, and it is our pleasure to announce our first AI Lang BarCamp, an informal meeting where we can exchange ideas about AI-assisted language pedagogy.

A few words about AI Lang

The Artificial Intelligence for Language Education (AI Lang) project is an ECML-funded initiative that aims to document how teachers and learners use AI in language education, what competences teachers (need to) draw on, and how language teachers and learners can use AI efficiently, appropriately and ethically.

At this stage of the project, we are acquainting ourselves with the various AI-assisted language education tools that teachers use in their classes. We have already completed an online survey from which we gained some insight about the pedagogical applications of AI, the concerns teachers report, and their needs.

What we want to do next is deepen this knowledge by learning more from specific examples of AI-assisted language education and by exchanging ideas with people who have used AI creatively in their classes.

With this in mind, we would like to invite you to our first BarCamp on AI for Language Education.

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What is a BarCamp?

A BarCamp, or unconference, is a gathering of experts and practitioners who want to share and learn in an informal, open environment. In a BarCamp, all participants actively contribute and share their experience and know-how in a short presentation or demonstration.

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The AI Lang BarCamp

In our first AI Lang BarCamp we invite language teachers, teacher educators and language students to share their experiences with AI technology. The BarCamp will take place online (on Zoom) on 5th November 2024 (17:00–19:00, Central European Standard Time, i.e., GMT+1)

In this first meeting we would like to explore the following questions:

• How can AI help language teachers plan lessons and create materials?
• How useful, effective and creative are the activities that AI tools generate?
• How can AI help language learners improve their writing, speaking, listening or reading skills?

If you’d like to join our online event, we would like you to share a very concrete experience with a specific skill, task or tool that you have tried out. Your presentation should not exceed 15 minutes and there will be an additional 10 minutes of discussion following that.

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