Mark Arthur holds the CertTESOL and DipTESOL from Trinity College London. Working in ELT since 2000 in Mexico and the UK as a teacher, teacher trainer, examiner, and materials writer, Mark is currently a senior academic consultant for Macmillan Education and a frequent speaker at national and regional conferences.

 

According to UNESCO, among the risks posed by AI is the threat to human agency. The integration of AI into language teaching, such as lesson plan and materials generation, automatic grading, and adaptive learning software, poses a threat to teacher agency, which is defined as the authority to make choices and act in their local context, significantly shapes the work, conditions, and quality of education. Therefore, it is crucial for teachers and institutions to protect and preserve teacher agency and promote human-centered integration of technology and collaborative intelligence. This practical workshop tackles three questions: What is language teacher agency? How is it undermined by AI? What practical steps can teachers and institutions take to protect it?

The session explores themes including teacher agency in the era of AI, ethical training in AI use, pedagogical training on AI tools, advocacy for human-centered approaches, and seeking collaboration. Participants will reflect on how they exercise agency in their classrooms, list critical questions about proposed AI tools in their schools, analyze how AI supports language learning, and explore ways to bring human-centered approaches to the classroom. Additionally, they will consider potential collaborators within their institutions.

It is intended that by the end of the workshop, participants will recognize the importance of teacher agency for effective language programs; be able to identify ways AI can undermine teacher agency and relate this to professional contexts; and, be familiar with strategies to protect and enhance teacher agency in AI-enhanced language teaching and connect these to professional contexts.