If you’re considering teaching English abroad or online, you’ve likely noticed the significant impact that technology has had on education, particularly with AI tools like ChatGPT. As a teacher who has embraced artificial intelligence both inside and outside of the classroom, I’ll share how AI tools can help save teachers’ time, enhance student learning, and even make finding job opportunities abroad and online less stressful and more efficient.
Thank you to The TEFL Institute for sponsoring this blog post.
Post Contents
How Artificial Intelligence is Affecting the TEFL Industry
The rise of artificial intelligence has created a new landscape for TEFL teachers worldwide. Teachers who utilize AI tools are producing personalized lessons in record time, leveraging apps and websites with artificial intelligence technology, and even optimizing their job searches by using tools like ChatGPT and the TEFL Explorer.
AI first entered the education industry through language apps like Duolingo and tools such as Grammarly. More users providing input and advancements in technology have made AI-powered applications more accurate and easier to use. When ChatGPT entered the conversation, the first teachers who tested it out immediately saw its potential for reducing time spent outside of the classroom and supporting student learning.
Is AI bad for the education industry?
“AI will replace teachers.”
While some teachers fear that AI will take over the ESL teaching industry and education in general, teachers who make an effort to embrace artificial intelligence will provide richer learning experiences for their students. Additionally, fewer teachers will leave the industry due to burnout thanks to more efficient lesson planning and administration processes.
“AI isn’t reliable.”
Results produced by generative AI can be filled with inaccuracies. As teachers, we are used to textbooks filled with grammatical errors, incorrect information, and spelling mistakes. If we treat AI as an assistant, rather than a replacement for teachers, we can still view it as a useful tool.
“Students will cheat using AI.”
It’s our job as educators to teach our students how to use AI tools constructively while still encouraging critical thinking skills. Artificial intelligence has become part of our daily lives, and it’s crucial to teach students how to use it responsibly both in and outside the classroom.
Like anything new, it takes time, along with trial and error, to find the balance between testing out new technology in the classroom and leaning on traditional TEFL teaching methods and resources. If you’re up for the challenge of adding AI into your ESL classroom abroad or online, you won’t be disappointed.
How TEFL Teachers Can Use AI Tools
Efficient Lesson Planning & Activity Creation
ChatGPT and similar generative AI tools make lesson planning easy by quickly brainstorming activities, writing lesson plans in sequence, finding additional resources, and even generating slide presentations, worksheets, rubrics, and more. Have a reading that’s for A2 level students, but need it for B1 level learners? AI can adapt learning materials for various levels in a few clicks.
Here are some additional ways AI can assist teachers with lesson planning and activity creation:
- Generate conversation questions or debate prompts on a specific topic and at a specific CEFR level
- Suggest warm-up or review activities based on a grammar point or a set of vocabulary words
- Develop quiz or test questions based on the unit you’ve studied
- Create questions or fill-in-the-blank activities based on videos or recordings
Personalized Learning for ESL Learners
Another way ESL teachers can use ChatGPT is to personalize learning for every student. Differentiating lessons and activities has been part of TEFL teaching since the early 2000s, and while it greatly benefits students, it has always been time-consuming for teachers.
Today’s teachers can create a variety of activities for the same class with students at different levels around the same topic with the help of AI. For example, a teacher could use artificial intelligence to adapt a reading into three different levels. Then, students of different levels could come together to discuss the topic. Gone are the days of some students feeling overwhelmed while others aren’t being challenged enough. AI makes it so that all students can participate and feel included.
As educators, we know that our students have many different individual learning styles. A visual learner might benefit from activities using flashcards and other images, while a kinesthetic learner retains information best by incorporating movement. ChatGPT and other AI tools help teachers tailor and prep activities to match diverse learning styles in a few minutes instead of hours.
Additionally, feedback is essential to student learning. However, many teachers are spending hours outside of class correcting student work, which leads to burnout and low-quality feedback. TEFL teachers can use AI to help write individualized comments on an essay, for example, suggesting next steps for improvement and additional follow-up activities. Similarly, students could record a speaking sample that can be quickly analyzed by AI tools.
When teachers turn to artificial intelligence as a teaching assistant, both teachers and students benefit from more efficient and individualized ESL lessons and activities.
Streamlining the Job Search Process for Teaching Abroad
What if a teacher wants to find a teaching position abroad? AI can help with that, too. ChatGPT can help you organize and streamline your teach abroad CVs and applications. AI is also helpful when trying to determine the best countries or regions to teach in and what to expect from the hiring process.
Here are some ways artificial intelligence can assist ESL educators with their job search:
- Generate lists of where to apply based on your qualifications, experience, and preferences
- Prepare answers for common interview questions related to the TEFL industry, and even role-play a mock interview
- Research visa requirements, cultural norms, and salary information for roles abroad
- Tailor your CV and cover letters for specific roles
- Suggest additional professional development or certifications to increase your hireability for ESL jobs abroad
Streamlining the Job Search Process for Teaching Online
Similarly, AI tools are useful for speeding up your online teaching job search. While teach abroad applications typically require a CV and cover letter, online teaching platforms entail filling out applications, creating intro videos, and possibly teaching a demo video.
Here are some ways AI can help TEFL teachers get hired to teach online:
- Research which teaching platforms you’re eligible for based on your nationality, English level, qualifications, and experience
- Create demo lesson ideas and scripts tailored to specific online teaching platforms
- Proofread online teaching applications and written teacher profiles
- Help define your teaching niche, which is extremely important when attracting students on online teaching marketplaces like Preply or teaching online as a freelancer
- Create a marketing plan for how to get students as a freelancer
How The TEFL Institute Supports Teachers with AI-powered Tools
The TEFL Institute has a variety of AI-powered tools designed to support aspiring and experienced TEFL teachers, known as the TEFL Explorer.
Want to teach English abroad? The platform features a TEFL Job Market Explorer, which helps users identify the best regions to teach, explore current job demand, see average salaries, and understand job requirements worldwide. You can take a quick test to discover which teaching destinations suit you best, and the site matches you with exciting opportunities abroad.
I tested out the “Find Your TEFL Opportunities” quiz and compared my results with what I already know about teaching in Spain, based on teaching there for 5 years. The tool generated information on types of institutions, high-demand cities, average salaries by institution type, and additional notes on topics like:
- Contract details
- Classroom environment
- Cultural considerations
- Weather and the best time to go
- Living conditions
- Visa requirements
- Where to apply for visa/work permits
- Average school contract length
I found all of this information to be quite accurate and very helpful for teachers who are just starting their search for a teach abroad position. However, the information in the common benefits section wasn’t accurate for all institution types. While international schools often provide housing, flight reimbursements, and contract completion bonuses, this is not common for public or private schools in Spain. This is a good reminder that AI tools are helpful for starting your search, but you still want to go to the source to verify information.
The TEFL Explorer determines job demand by using data related to specific teaching regions and industry insights. The data used to generate results is updated and refreshed periodically, but due to the nature of the ESL teaching industry and changeability of visa requirements, it’s recommended to double-check your results with official immigration and program websites.
The TEFL Institute also offers one-to-one mentoring with a dedicated employability office that helps graduates find real-time jobs after qualifying through the platform. So, you’re not just learning, you’re getting real support for your next steps in the classroom or online. You can learn more about The TEFL Institute’s range of accredited TEFL courses here.
How will you embrace AI in your ESL classroom and job search?
Now that you have a better idea of the wide range of benefits artificial intelligence provides for TEFL teachers, how will you incorporate AI tools into your teaching and career? I challenge you to try 3 ways this month and send me a message on Instagram @eslteacher365 to let me know your results!
AI Challenge Ideas:
- ESL lesson planning
- Personalized learning
- As a classroom assistant
- Feedback support
- Admin automation
- Teaching material production
Happy teaching!
Jamie
