The Hong Kong Association for Self-Access Learning and Development

Seminar: Dr Lucas Kohnke

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Preparing Future-Ready TESOL Educators in the Age of GenAI

By Dr Lucas Kohnke
The Education University of Hong Kong

In todayā€™s rapidly evolving technological landscape, Generative AI (GenAI) is reshaping the role of TESOL educators and transforming language learning. As AI continues to drive these changes, teacher education programs must adapt to equip future educators with the skills necessary to thrive in AI-enhanced classrooms. 

InĀ this presentation, I want to focus on an essential question: How can TESOL educators redefine their core competencies in response to these emerging technologies while maintaining the human-centeredĀ pedagogies at the heart of effective language teaching? RatherĀ than relying on outdated, traditional methods, TESOL educators must evolve to meet the demands of modern classrooms. But how do we achieve this? The answer lies in adopting sustainable strategiesā€”approaches that allow us to integrate AI without constantly overhauling our curricula or overwhelming our teachers with new tools.

Weā€™ll explore:

  • How TESOL programs can integrateĀ GenAIĀ in a way that enhances learning without making teachers overly dependent on technology.
  • Practical strategies for continuous adaptation and ongoing professional developmentā€”ensuring that educators are always equipped to face future challenges.
  • The balance between technology and human-centeredĀ teaching maintains the core values of connection, empathy, and personalized learning essential to language instruction.

By focusing on sustainability and adaptability, TESOL educators can lead in current and future classrooms, using AI to their advantage while staying grounded in the principles that make language learning meaningful.

Join me as we explore actionable principles for integratingĀ GenAIĀ into TESOL teacher education, creating future-ready educators who can confidently navigate the evolving landscape of language instruction.

Biography

Dr. Lucas Kohnke’s research focuses on technology-supported teaching and learning, and teacher professional development with emerging technologies. He has contributed over 60 articles to leading journals such as Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, Educational Technology & Society, Education and Information Technologies, ReCALL, SYSTEM, and RELC. His diverse teaching areas include integrating technology into language classrooms, AI in education, teacher training, and English language teaching methodologies. He is a top 2% most cited scholar in education 2024.