Below is content from the Pedagogy Workshops held in Washington DC and online from Jun 6-8, 2025
AI and Teaching at MLS in 2025
Recoding of the session: https://midd.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=c96a2358-cc6f-4fe5-9a8c-b2f9014bb7eb OR https://tinyurl.com/AI-at-MLS-25
Powerpoint presentation from the session: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1yDo4cmYttT9fNOnE4BDiD5IRQGA5rqzAx_VI0-Xm9ZA/edit?usp=sharing.
- Introduction to Large Language Models (i.e. OpenAI GPT 4.0, LLAMA) vs. generalized interfaces with the LLMs (i.e. ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini) vs. specialized interfaces with the LLM’s (i.e. BriskTeaching, Magicschool.ai).
- Working with BriskTeaching within Google files in Chrome – Grade level, standards, can create a presentation, podcast, glows and grows, inspect writing.
- Magicschool.AI and Diffit.me as examples of specialized AI tools to use or to inspire out prompts in generalized GPTs (CoPilot [Middlebury-supported instance], Claude [most human-like], NotebookLM [best at generating podcasts], ChatGPT [most familiar])
- Custom GPTs (or prompts which can mimic them) as a solution to the Language Pledge and Honor Code
- AI as a tool for lesson planning with Magicschool.AI
- Creating and Sharing Language Games (Little Language Lessons https://labs.google/lll/en; UMich games https://sintjago.com/htmlgames/)
- Materials Creation and Support (Twee.com for Discussion Questions, CEFR Level checking, Transcription)
- Ethics and possibilities of AI for Feedback – Rubrics (cograder.com), tests, quizzes (conker.ai)
More strategies for teaching neurodiverse learners (See the recording from the 2024 Curricular Workshops for more detail on this topic)
Recoding of the session: https://midd.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=e22c02d5-1b0c-4b84-bcdd-b2f9014aec2c
Powerpoint presentation from the session: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1h6d22HO29nNGedHB8T2vB7LmyjuYC1w1HRbbWdmxnzU/edit?usp=sharing
Cascade Reading (Italian, German, French, Spanish – you can prompt a generalized AI)
Goblin.tools (Toolkit for task management, but many other teacher- and learner-friendly functions)
Strategies for motivationally diverse learners
Recoding of the session: https://midd.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=7548a107-8e5c-4709-9b2e-b2f901619438
Powerpoint presentation from the session: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1EZuLl3RX6qWVqjLl1_J5lLpvZTmSZYFWNuyKaj4-bb8/edit?usp=sharing
Why learn language at MLS?
Together we read this article, “The Death of Fluency” by a Middlebury College and Language Schools’ alumnus, noting on how much the use value of different kinds of language learning is changing. As the cost-benefit analysis for language learning changes, our curricula have to adapt.
We imagined having to create a response for the Middlebury Schools Board of Advisors on why language learning in 2025 is still worth the time, money, and energy, despite advances in tools.
We also interacted with a Pocketalk (https://www.pocketalk.com/) device, which is a universal-SIM-enabled AI-augmented interpretation device, to evaluate what kinds of language situations work well with a device like that, and what sorts of tasks might we cycle out of our curriculum if such devices become widespread.
We then fed some of the main think pieces on AI in Language Teaching into Notebook.LM, and asked it to help us defend what we do at the Language Schools to a hypothetical skeptical board member. Based on the current state of the research articles and think pieces, AI thought the prognosis for the language schools is strong, and gave suggestions on what we might highlight or augment in our curriculum.
Prognosis for a Two-Month Domestic Immersion Language Learning Program in the Age of AI
While the emergence of AI and its rapid advancements in language learning and translation tools present significant changes to the landscape of language education, the prognosis for a program like ours, with its unique emphasis on deep immersion and human interaction, remains strong and even more vital in the evolving educational ecosystem.
Challenges and the Evolving Landscape
Perceived Diminished Need: AI-powered translation and communication tools are becoming increasingly accurate and accessible, providing “good enough” solutions for many functional uses like basic tourism or casual conversations. This can lead to a perception that traditional, arduous language learning is less necessary, as people tend to follow the “path of least resistance”.
Cost and Time Commitment: Our program’s expense and the significant time commitment (two months in a rural setting) stand in contrast to the often “faster, cheaper, and more convenient” self-paced AI apps.
AI’s Strengths in Basic Skills: AI excels at personalized grammar explanations, vocabulary acquisition, and writing practice, offering instant feedback and constant availability, which are valuable features many learners seek….
Inherent Strengths and Unique Value Proposition
Despite these challenges, our program offers what AI fundamentally cannot, positioning it not as obsolete, but as a premium and indispensable experience for serious language learners.
Irreplaceable Human Interaction: Language learning is inherently a social activity. Our program’s core—living, eating, dancing, and playing together using only the target language—provides authentic human-to-human connection, nuanced social cues, and emotional engagement that AI systems cannot replicate4…. AI interactions are often transactional, whereas human interactions are relational.
Deep Cultural Immersion: Our rich array of cultural programming and the “target language only” pledge enable students to dive deeply into the culture, acquiring “an entirely new set of ways of looking at the world”. This fosters cultural competency and a richer understanding of context and nuance that AI models consistently lack…
Beyond Functional Fluency: While AI can provide “slick but soulless” translations, genuine language acquisition allows individuals to communicate not just facts, but “a way of being”—revealing their true “self” rather than a deepfake persona… This builds a “richer and broader” human being.
Cognitive Benefits: Language learning is a “gym for the brain,” enhancing memory, creativity, concentration, and potentially delaying neurological decline. These intrinsic benefits are separate from utilitarian communication and are a significant draw for many learners.
Professional Relevance: While AI can bridge some gaps, there remains an unmet need for human language skills in business, government, and academic sectors where nuanced communication and cross-cultural understanding are critical for effective collaboration…. AI is a supplement, not a replacement, in these high-stakes environments….
Niche Market: Our program caters specifically to “cultural learners” and “cognitive/enrichment learners” who seek depth, identity, and comprehensive understanding, a segment often underserved by mass-market AI apps.
Curriculum Adjustments to Reach Learners in the Age of AI
We should not ignore AI, but rather strategically integrate it into our pedagogical approach, leveraging its strengths to enhance our uniquely human-centric program….
Foster AI Literacy and Ethical Use:
Explicitly teach students AI literacy, including how to understand, access, prompt, corroborate, and critically evaluate AI-generated content1…. This is a crucial skill for future-ready learners45.
Establish clear guidelines on the appropriate use of AI, distinguishing between AI assistance and plagiarism, and fostering discussions about ethical AI use, data privacy, and the potential for bias38….
Consider developing a proprietary, controlled chatbot or specific AI exercises that align with our pedagogical goals, minimizing concerns about data privacy and ensuring content relevance….
Refine Learning and Assessment Strategies:
Design tasks that move beyond simple grammar drills or rote memorization, focusing on higher-order thinking skills like critique, synthesis, and iterative co-creation…. For example, students could be tasked with critiquing AI-generated responses for cultural inaccuracies or linguistic nuances, or co-creating projects with AI and then demonstrating their human insights.
Emphasize human-AI partnerships (co-intelligence), where students learn to effectively collaborate with AI tools rather than relying on them to bypass genuine effort.
Leverage AI for Prep and Individualized Support (Outside Core Immersion):
Use AI tools to generate supplementary materials, lesson plans, or basic grammar explanations, freeing up instructors’ time for more complex, human-led interactions and personalized coaching during the immersion period…. This can help address pedagogical workload concerns.
Acknowledge AI’s utility for initial vocabulary building and basic grammar practice before or after the immersion period, allowing students to use these tools for foundational skills that complement the deep immersion experience.
Focus on Speaking and Listening Mastery: While AI aids writing and grammar, current AI tools still have limited impact on true speaking and listening fluency…. Our program’s strict immersion environment directly addresses this gap by forcing continuous, real-time spoken communication.