We may love it and we may hate it, but one thing is certain – artificial intelligence has made itself comfortable in our reality. And like everything, it has its pros and cons. However, it is such a groundbreaking and fast-learning creation that it is sure to stay with us for a long time. You may now stand in opposition, treat it as competition and shy away from using it. However, it is far better to draw on its potential. After all, it was created to make our lives easier. And looking at current trends, the sooner you learn to use it in your current work, the more benefits you will see.
The role of teachers has changed over the years with the development of technology. The answer to this progress is to provide students with learning opportunities that are relevant to the realities we live in and their impact on the near future. Artificial intelligence-based tools can not only enhance the creativity and productivity of students, but more importantly, they provide teachers with valuable insights into student learning and help with most of the time-consuming tasks teachers face.
It is worth using AI to improve daily work. And the attractiveness and variety of the prepared materials will be an added plus. The use of AI can transform a course into a dynamic, interactive environment conducive to language learning.
These tools not only facilitate the creation of original audio and video materials, but also generate personalised feedback, increase the accessibility of learning and create a multidimensional language learning experience.
Want to take language teaching to a whole new level and make your job easier? Here are 8 AI-based tools worth using in language teaching.
8 useful AI tools for lecturers
1. StoryWizard
An amazing tool that will be appreciated by teachers working with the youngest learners. The idea is trivial in its simplicity, but it creates WOW effect. You don’t have to waste time researching or creating simple readings that are both engaging and informative. All you need to do is answer a few questions about the nature of your future story and create a plot outline in literally two sentences. The result is a fantastic short story with a wealth of AI-generated images and questions at the end.
The tool allows you to check the meaning and listen to the pronunciation of unfamiliar words, and edit the text or image if you find that something needs to be corrected in the generated story. Tool available in 8 languages.
2. Speechify
Here is a chance to finally put an end to the incessant search for suitable listening material. Now you can create them yourself! Using artificial intelligence techniques, Speechify converts text into audio files. With this tool, you can convert a wide range of text formats such as articles, PDF files, emails, web pages and much more into a human voice. You can listen to the audio at any speed using your smartphone or computer and choose from several available voices, including… Snoop Dogg and Gwyneth Paltrow. How cool is that 🙂
3. Yippity
Yippity allows you to quickly convert any text or web page into a quiz. Once text is entered, it automatically creates a set of questions and answers that can be copied and pasted into a fiche app or quiz tool. Users can upload up to 10,000 characters of text from their notes or simply paste the URL of a website. Once uploaded, Yippity generates a set of questions and answers that can be easily shared with others using the share button.
4. ClassPoint AI
ClassPoint AI is a tool dedicated to teachers that allows you to turn any PowerPoint slide into questions. Even if you only have one word on the slide, ClassPoint AI can easily handle it. The AI analyses the content of the slide and generates a quiz based on this. You can choose from open-ended, multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blank questions.
ClassPoint is easy to use and available for free. Teachers who want to use the full range of features without restrictions can opt to purchase a ClassPoint Pro subscription.
5. Education CoPilot
This is an AI tool to consider when planning your next lesson. It will help you streamline your lesson preparation by using AI-generated ready-made lesson templates. At the heart of the system is the AI lesson planner Copilot. It is perfect for creating well-organised and high-quality lesson plans for any subject, topic or concept. It can be used in English and Spanish.
You can choose between a free and a paid version. The free version has quite a few features, but with the paid plan you get more advanced options.
6.Sendsteps.ai
Sendsteps is a tool that can easily and effectively generate an interactive presentation on any topic in just a few minutes. Presentations can be generated in 4 different ways:
- by using the built-in AI wizard,
- by creating a presentation outline from scratch,
- by uploading the completed document,
- by importing a ready-made Power Point presentation.
With the Sendteps presentation, you can ask questions and receive real-time feedback via smartphones, for example. This makes it much easier for teachers to assess students’ understanding of the topic, identify problem areas and adjust the level and teaching accordingly.
One of the biggest advantages is the versatility of Sendstep.ai. It can be used to create quizzes, interactive presentations and for remote learning. It’s a great tool if you want to increase student engagement, save time and improve teaching efficiency. It is available in up to 86 languages! And it generates a presentation in 5 simple steps. If you want to add variety to your lessons and save some preparation time, it’s worth a try.
7. AudioPen
AudioPen converts voice notes into text that is easy to read and ready to share. You can create articles, emails and messages, among other things, this way. Just…speak!
It is the perfect tool for people who find it difficult to organise their thoughts. Thanks to its intuitive interface, the app makes it easy to capture ideas and transform them into coherent notes. By using this tool, you can clear your mind of all unnecessary thoughts and focus on what is really important. One of the best things about AudioPen is that it doesn’t require any special skills or knowledge. You don’t need to be a copywriter or an expert in modern technology – all you need is your voice!
It also offers the option of replacing words that were not originally used to make your answer clearer and more fluent. In addition, it sensibly restructures the sentences you say. This is great feedback. It helps you formulate your thoughts better and enriches your vocabulary.
8. Gradescope
Gradescope is currently considered the best assessment tool available to teachers. Thanks to its advanced artificial intelligence technology, you can quickly assess students’ progress by uploading scans or photos of their work and using an intuitive interface to mark and describe assignments. Answers from multiple-choice tests can also be automatically assessed by the artificial intelligence-based system, saving you time and effort. The reporting and analysis system enables easy collaboration and allows you to share feedback and results with other teachers.
Phew…we’ve reached the end, and really this is just a drop in the ocean of possibilities available.
We still hear a lot of misconceptions about artificial intelligence, this mysterious creature that could potentially conquer the world, steal jobs from people and it’s scary to think what’s next. The truth, however, is that many professionals in various fields are more afraid of stories about bad artificial intelligence than they are deeply involved in learning what it really is and how it can be used in their work.
Despite the considerable challenges associated with the rise of AI, lecturers can really benefit from AI-based tools. By implementing AI technologies at work, they can increase teaching efficiency, provide better and more advanced assistance to students and, at the same time, keep up with the latest developments in educational technology. What is it like for you? Do you use the tools above, steer clear of AI or know of better applications? Let us know in the comments!