Empowering Language Teachers with GenAI
“A different language is a different vision of life.”
Federico Fellini
It is through teachers that we all caught our first few glimpses of the big, wide world and developed our visions of life!
Generative AI has revolutionized several arenas in the way we think and operate and one space where the impact is passive is the field of education. In the field of education, Gen AI can be used to provide personalized learning, enhances student engagement, and streamlines several administrative tasks. Around the world, many universities are having active discussions on the use of genAI tools in their classrooms, because it is the technology that has been embraced by students to complement their learning goals. It only makes sense to see it as an effective tool that could help generate tailored content, customized learning materials and creative resources for teachers as well.
Fabricating content for different proficiency levels, Correcting and evaluating grammar, pronunciation, and writing, Designing and creating lesson plans are some of the ways GenAI can help language teachers.
Teachers are shaping the vision of the next generation, and Gen AI could be the magic wand enabling teachers to focus more on direct instruction and student interaction in the class. AI tools can provide real-world language practice, transforming the educational experience for both teachers and students. In this blog we will explore ways in which Gen AI can help language teachers, both for in-person or online lessons. The languages considered for this study are English and other international languages like French. Some ways how Gen AI significantly helps teachers are illustrated below. The sample prompts are written and tested on google’s AI called gemini, which is easy to sign up for with a gmail ID.
Explaining Abstract Concepts: Generative AI helps teachers create tangible and suitable examples to explain abstract concepts by generating relevant, context-specific illustrations and scenarios. For instance, it can turn a complex grammar rule into an engaging story or dialogue, making it easier to understand.
Sample prompt:
I am a French teacher teaching passé compose and Imparfait to my students of 14 years.
Create a short story in French using the character of a 10-year-old boy Joel. The story should be in French and it should use both passe compose and Imparfait.
Below the story explain when and why each of these types of grammar structures are used.
Creating activities: Gen AI assists in creating class activities for engaging the students by quickly generating a set of dialogues and getting the class to do a role play that can be practiced by the students. Role play is a practical way for the students to understand the usage of the intended sentence structure and grammatical constructs along with its contextual usage. For example, AI can create a quick set of dialogues in the different tenses enabling students to practice verb conjugation in French, allowing the teacher to assess comprehension and identify areas needing reinforcement immediately.
Sample prompt:
I am an English teacher teaching present tense and conditional present to my students of 14 years.
Create a set of simple and short dialogues between 2 characters of Abi and Bibi who are 12-year-olds and are in the same class at school. The dialogues should use present tense and conditional present of several simple verbs
Below the dialogues explain when the conditional present is used.
Constructing quizzes: Gen AI helps create quizzes for language activities by generating tailored questions and answers based on specific learning objectives. For example, AI can produce multiple-choice questions to test vocabulary and grammar or design fill-in-the-blank exercises for sentence structure, ensuring diverse and comprehensive assessment tools
Sample prompt:
I am a French teacher for intermediate level students of 15 years.
I would like 5 simple sentences in French for "Fill in the blanks" to teach nouns pertaining to “écotourisme”. Give 4 choices for each question.
Give the correct answer for each question.
Correcting and evaluating grammar, pronunciation, and writing: Gen AI aids teachers in correcting and evaluating grammar, pronunciation, and writing by providing instant, accurate feedback. AI tools analyze student submissions for grammatical errors, suggest improvements, and assess pronunciation accuracy through speech recognition technology. These tools offer detailed writing critiques, helping students refine their skills effectively while reducing the teacher's workload. For example, an AI-powered writing assistant can highlight passive voice misuse, suggest synonyms for overused words, and even evaluate sentence structure, making it a comprehensive aid for language learning.
Building multimodal learning resources: Gen AI supports teachers to build multimodal learning resources by creating content that incorporates text, audio, visual, and interactive elements. AI can generate engaging videos, interactive exercises, and illustrative infographics that cater to different learning styles. For instance, AI can convert a text-based lesson on French vocabulary into an interactive quiz, a pronunciation practice tool with audio clips, and a visual mind map. This multimodal approach ensures that lessons are more comprehensive and accessible, enhancing student understanding and retention.
Fabricating content for different proficiency levels: Gen AI can support teachers in crafting customizable content for varying proficiency levels by automating the generation of materials tailored to individual student needs. For instance, if a teacher is creating a set of math problems for a mixed-ability classroom, Generate AI can generate a range of questions spanning from basic arithmetic to advanced problem-solving, allowing each student to work at their appropriate level of challenge. Additionally, it can provide alternative explanations or visual aids for complex concepts, ensuring accessibility for students with different learning styles or abilities. This personalized approach not only saves teachers time but also enhances the effectiveness of instruction by catering to the diverse needs of students within the classroom.
Overcoming language barriers: For language teachers, gen AI helps in overcoming language barriers especially when the teacher is a non-native with the AI’s translation tools and multilingual support. With Gen AI’s support for speech recognition, it effectively helps teachers with his or her own pronunciation and understanding of the language and its cultural and regional nuances. For example: as a French teacher in India, one can understand certain regional specifics of French spoken in Quebec versus those that are to certain regions in France.
Designing and creating lesson plans: It can generate detailed lesson content, including objectives, activities, and assessments, based on a brief prompt or topic input from the teacher. Gen AI significantly assists language teachers in crafting comprehensive lesson plans by swiftly generating tailored materials. By analysing student proficiency levels, learning styles, and specific objectives, AI can suggest diverse activities, engaging resources, and personalized exercises. Through its vast database and natural language processing capabilities, Gen AI streamlines the process of sourcing relevant content, adapting to varying teaching methodologies, and fostering interactive learning experiences. Consequently, language teachers can devote more time to individualized instruction, refining their pedagogical approaches, and nurturing students' linguistic skills effectively.
Sample Prompt:
I am an English teacher planning a lesson on speaking with empathy in daily interactions by students with their parents.
The students are 12-year-olds.
Create a brief lesson plan for 35 minutes which defines lesson content, including objectives, activities, and assessments based on empathy.
Give a few examples from daily life of how questions and interactions can be made empathetic
As the role of teachers is changing from instructors to guides, mentors and facilitators of learning, Gen AI enhanced teaching methods provide the right platform for teachers to be more effective in their communication and evolve as true educators.
Here at DeepDiveLabs, we are empowering educators through our customized training programs titled Application of Gen AI for School teachers. Key highlights of the curriculum includes:
Foundational understanding of GenAI: Educators will gain a solid understanding of GenAI technologies, including how they work and their potential impact on the educational sector.
Practical Applications: Through hands-on exercises and real-world examples, teachers will learn to apply GenAI tools to various day-to-day tasks.
Ethical Considerations and Best Practices: A crucial component of the curriculum is navigating the ethical use of AI in education, ensuring that teachers are equipped to use these technologies responsibly and effectively.
Would you be interested in our upcoming free webinar of Application of Gen AI for School teachers?
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