Opening AI for Language Learning

Mathias Schulze, Philip Hubbard

Aimed at language educators seeking clarity, practical insights, and critical reflections in the rapidly changing AI landscape, the Opening AI for Language Learning (OAILL) podcast explores the evolving intersection of linguistics, pedagogy, and AI in language teaching and learning. Initiated by the Language and Applied Research Center at San Diego State University (SDSU-LARC), it features hosts Mat Schulze, Professor of German and Director of SDSU-LARC, and Phil Hubbard, Senior Lecturer Emeritus at the Stanford University Language Center, longtime colleagues with decades of experience in technology for language education. In place of the all-too-common hype surrounding AI, they offer conversations in which they and occasional guests share their research and practice-informed perspectives, commentaries on others’ work, and their own professional and personal AI experiences. We are grateful for the support for Opening AI for Language Learning by the Language and Applied Research Center at San Diego State University and the Southern Area International Languages Network – SAILN – which is part of the California World Languages Project. Our producer and editor is Chris Brown. Mari Ocando Finol is the production coordinator of OAILL. Our music was composed by Tillmann Spiegl. Live conversations are moderated and the podcast is promoted by Shahnaz Ahmadeian. Episodes drop on Tuesday every 2 weeks. And remember: Artificial intelligence is no substitute for natural ignorance. Links: Phil Hubbard: https://web.stanford.edu/~efs/phil/ Mat Schulze: https://pantarhei.press/mat/ The PantaRhei.press blog about OAILL: https://pantarhei.press/oaill/ The SAILN website about OAILL: https://larc.sdsu.edu/oaill/

  1. 9月1日

    The Chinese Room Argument

    What does it mean to understand a language? Today’s generative AI tools can produce remarkably convincing linguistic forms, but can these systems understand the language they produce? In today’s episode, Mat and Phil explore John Searle’s Chinese Room thought experiment and its argument that a system can produce appropriate linguistic forms without understanding their meaning. What can language learners gain from interacting with a machine that simulates language but does not understand it? Can learners engage in languaging—constructing meaning, knowledge, and experience through language and participating in human communities—by simply interacting with a chatbot? Our hosts explore these questions while also considering the opportunities AI chatbots offer language learners, from conversation practice and individualized language exposure to incidental language learning. Along the way, they reflect on what these possibilities—and their limitations—can teach language educators about the role of generative AI in language learning and the continued importance of teachers and human interaction. In this episode: The Chinese Room, by John Searle https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Mx8BUCwB7u71Gu5ZxgndhH2F5OVEryYc/view?usp=sharingSwain, M. (2006). Languaging, agency and collaboration in advanced second language proficiency. In H. Byrnes (Ed.), Advanced language learning: The contribution of Halliday and Vygotsky (pp. 95–108). Continuum.

    The Chinese Room Argument
  2. 8月18日

    CALICO 2026 in Oxford (Part 2)

    What can generative AI do for language teaching and learning—and where does it fall short? Mat and Phil beam us back to Oxford, Ohio, for Part 2 of their conversations from the 2026 CALICO Conference, exploring AI for language learning, language teacher education, AI-generated feedback, and conversational AI through four perspectives. Dorothy Chun, Professor Emerita of Education and Applied Linguistics at UC Santa Barbara and recipient of the 2026 CALICO Lifetime Achievement Award, reflects on what decades of experience with language-learning technology can teach us about the current AI moment, including how to move beyond the hype to identify what AI can and cannot do and whether AI can reproduce the social, pragmatic, and intercultural dimensions of human interaction. Bin Zou, Professor of Applied Linguistics at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University in China, examines the opportunities and challenges of generative AI for language teachers, including AI feedback and ways educators can incorporate their own pedagogical expertise into general-purpose AI tools. Visiting Professor of Applied Linguistics at Ohio University Francesca Marino considers AI and language teacher education, including how U.S. universities are preparing future language teachers and CALL researchers to integrate emerging technologies. Finally, Ben Altschuler, CEO of Speakology AI, explains how conversational AI can support language learning through realistic AI avatars and teacher-designed speaking activities. In this episode: CALICO 2027 in Fairbanks, Alaska: https://calico.org/calico-2027/Dorothy Chun: https://education.ucsb.edu/people/emeriti-faculty/dorothy-chunBin Zou: https://scholar.xjtlu.edu.cn/en/persons/BinZou/Francesca Marino: https://webcmsqa.ohio.edu/cas/linguistics/fmarinoBen Altschuler, CEO of Speakology AI: https://speakology.ai/

    CALICO 2026 in Oxford (Part 2)
  3. 5月26日

    TESOL goes AI

    In this episode, Phil reports to Mat on his adventures at the TESOL 2026 Convention in Salt Lake City, March 24-27. Phil talked with exhibitors and attended as many AI-focused presentations, panels, and posters as he could to get a sense of how AI, especially GenAI, is being presented by and to professional English language teachers. Mat comments on the value of panels and the conversations at conferences that take place during breaks and in the evening. General themesMix of skepticism and excitementSome hype and naive applications, but less than expectedHighlighting of ethics and critical AI Literacy (E.g., CALL Interest Section panel on AI ethics: https://submissions.mirasmart.com/TESOL2026/Itinerary/PresentationDetail.aspx?evdid=463 )AI-focused exhibitors, including small-scale startups but also DuolingoTwo standout presentations (among many!)Miriam Moore (University of North Georgia): four-part critical AI literacy framework. She recommends building a personal ethical checklist and conducting a privacy audit of AI platforms you use. https://submissions.mirasmart.com/TESOL2026/Itinerary/EventsAAG.aspxJane Freeman (University of Toronto). Using a puppet-puppeteer analogy, she discusses the difference between cognitive offloading (for learners, AI as a shortcut to task completion—human is the puppet) and distributed cognition (AI as a collaborative partner—human is the puppeteer). She also noted (correctly) that “None of us are AI literate.” https://submissions.mirasmart.com/TESOL2026/Itinerary/EventsAAG.aspxExhibitorsFlowspeak: Semi-structured scenarios where ESL students interact with an AI to move from B1 to B2 to C1 CEF levels. https://www.flowspeak.io/PangeaChat: Text or audio chat with others with AI support; also has an option for independent interaction with a chatbot. https://pangea.chat/Unicorn Tutor AI: Transforms an institutional curriculum into AI lessons supporting interactive practice. https://unicorntutor.com/ESLVideo’s Chattybots: Activities such as conversations, role plays, picture descriptions conducted with an AI chatbot. https://eslvideo.com/TESOL publications on AIChristina Kitson. AI Zip GuideSamaneh Eslamdoost. AI Enhanced ELT: Innovative Strategies to Transform your ClassroomWilliam Newman. AI No-Prep Activity CardsSee https://submissions.mirasmart.com/TESOL2026/Itinerary/EventsAAG.aspx for the full convention program. And: https://www.TESOL.org/

    TESOL goes AI

番組について

Aimed at language educators seeking clarity, practical insights, and critical reflections in the rapidly changing AI landscape, the Opening AI for Language Learning (OAILL) podcast explores the evolving intersection of linguistics, pedagogy, and AI in language teaching and learning. Initiated by the Language and Applied Research Center at San Diego State University (SDSU-LARC), it features hosts Mat Schulze, Professor of German and Director of SDSU-LARC, and Phil Hubbard, Senior Lecturer Emeritus at the Stanford University Language Center, longtime colleagues with decades of experience in technology for language education. In place of the all-too-common hype surrounding AI, they offer conversations in which they and occasional guests share their research and practice-informed perspectives, commentaries on others’ work, and their own professional and personal AI experiences. We are grateful for the support for Opening AI for Language Learning by the Language and Applied Research Center at San Diego State University and the Southern Area International Languages Network – SAILN – which is part of the California World Languages Project. Our producer and editor is Chris Brown. Mari Ocando Finol is the production coordinator of OAILL. Our music was composed by Tillmann Spiegl. Live conversations are moderated and the podcast is promoted by Shahnaz Ahmadeian. Episodes drop on Tuesday every 2 weeks. And remember: Artificial intelligence is no substitute for natural ignorance. Links: Phil Hubbard: https://web.stanford.edu/~efs/phil/ Mat Schulze: https://pantarhei.press/mat/ The PantaRhei.press blog about OAILL: https://pantarhei.press/oaill/ The SAILN website about OAILL: https://larc.sdsu.edu/oaill/

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