Schools across the globe are increasingly integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their English curricula, a move that has sparked excitement, debate and transformation.

The technology has personalised learning and enabled learners to handle routine tasks easily, thereby giving them more time to inspire, connect with learners and cultivate a love for the language.

Speaking during a global annual conference at Zetech University, English teachers under the umbrella of the English Language Professionals Association of Kenya (ELPAK) allayed fears that the growth of technology would replace teachers, saying it will instead empower them.

 “AI has improved the teaching of English and has even enabled teachers to set and assess exams using the technology. It has also improved lesson planning and made the teachers’ work easier, enabling them to assess students’ reading levels, writing styles, and vocabulary gaps alongside tailor-making lessons to suit their individual needs,” Fredrick Otieno Odhiambo, the ELPAK chair , told journalists, adding that AI tools give teachers real-time feedback and adapt to their progress.

“It’s like having a personal tutor available all the time,” he added.

Otieno, however, expressed concerns that the technology is not directly beneficial to learners in the Kenyan set-up owing to restriction of mobile phones usage in schools.

 The ban was enforced to reduce distractions, improve focus in the classroom and curb the potential for negative behaviours such as bullying and violence.

Teachers led by Jemal Maringo from Tanzania and Rukia Mohammed emphasised that the new technology has become a classroom assistant as most of them use AI to analyse students’ writing more efciently, freeing up time for more meaningful one-on-one instruction and discussion.

Prof Njenga Munene, the Vice Chancellor of Zetech University, described the English language as vital due to its widespread global usage. Munene stated that AI can assist in collating dialects and phonetics by analysing large datasets of speech and text to identify patterns in pronunciation, vocabulary, and intonation specific to diferent dialects.

“Every year, new words are added to the English system, making it a very dynamic language. English facilitates access to a vast number of online resources, enhances employability, and fosters global understanding,” stated Munene.