AI and language learning workshop
A1/Elementary level
Description
Materials
Main Aims
-
To provide ethical and instructional usage of AI tools to enhance ST's implicit learning and contextual awareness.
Subsidiary Aims
-
To practice proper utilization and project AI as a helper, not to manipulate its abilities. It should be mentioned initially.
Procedure (73-90 minutes)
First I'll ask the STs if they've used AI before and what were the applications they were looking to find within the tool's capabilities. As the presenter, it helps to know whether any of the STs has used it in an educational context. Next I'm going to provide some information about the tools presented, I'll talk about its release date, its goal in the future, its current capabilities and specially, its use as a helper in a language learning journey. As well as its limits. followed by mentioning limits, I'll move on to clarify that during our session, the students might experience some malfunctions with the tool, especially because of using the free version on slower computers. Ethical use should be talked about from the first few minutes of the session: I'm going to explain that while AI can help with language practice, copying its responses directly for homework won’t help them improve their skills. Example Explanation: "If you let AI do all the work, it’s like having someone else lift weights for you, you won’t get stronger. But if you use it as a coach or guide, you’ll learn and grow faster." by making a Do/Don't list, the STs will realize the ethical use better I'll ask the students to ''Brainstorm examples of "good" and "bad" uses of ChatGPT. Discuss these together to clarify boundaries.'' scenario 1: "If you write a paragraph first and then ask ChatGPT for feedback or suggestions, you’ll learn more about your mistakes than if you just ask it to write the paragraph for you." Scenario 2: ''a student is stuck on a writing task. Instead of asking ChatGPT to "do my homework," they ask, "Can you give me ideas to describe a sunny day?" Scenario 3: ''After writing a paragraph, the student asks ChatGPT, "Can you check my grammar and suggest improvements?" As the continuation of the ethical use, I'll also encourage nice behavior towards the tool. for the lead in, I'll demonstrate the first task by asking simple questions from it.
"I want to see what vocabulary you know. Pick a topic you love, like football, rap music, or animals. Use DeepSeek to find 3 advanced/new/fun words. Write definitions and one sentence per word." Prompt: "Define [word] in simple English for A1 learners." "Give an example sentence with [word]." ''Teach me 5 new words about [topic] and define them in a simple way.''
"Now, let’s fix grammar mistakes. Work in teams to create sentences with hidden errors (e.g., wrong tense). Swap with another team and use AI to find and explain the errors." Demo: Show error examples via projector. Prompt: "Write 3 sentences about [topic] with 1 grammar mistake each." "Find and explain errors in: [paragraph]."
"Time for creativity! Vote: Sci-fi or mystery? I’ll start a story (e.g. ‘You find a spaceship in your school yard...’). In pairs/by yourselves, write the next 3 sentences using DeepSeek. Best twist wins!" *also students can use a different prompt which only integrates their reading skill: ''Ask the chat for an interactive story in [ST's level] and [topic]. Choose one out of two ways at the end of each paragraph to continue the story in your way.'' Prompt: "Continue this story in 3 sentences: [story start].'' ''write an interactive story/reading text for [STs level]. It is a prediction reading in which after each paragraph there's a multiple choice question and by choosing each option, the next paragraph continues based on it. [the topic]
"Imagine real-life scenes: ordering pizza, asking for directions. Generate a dialogue with AI, practice with your partner, then perform it!" *I’ll monitor for pronunciation feedback. Prompt: "Write a 4-line dialogue: [scenario]. Use A1 English." ''Based on a conversation, show me how English speakers [scenario] in real life''
Finally I'll share a catalog of different AI tools for varied purposes, as well as my experience in using AI for language learning. There are also extra prompts and activities in the catalog. Some tools I can demonstrate by visiting them through my laptop.
