Can Artificial Intelligence (AI) Fully Replace Human Educators in ELT Classrooms?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is currently pervasive and subtly changing a many sectors, including the creative arts, accounting, and medical. Its presence is also felt on education, particularly on learning English. With the discovery of tools like AI chatbots, grammar aids/checkers, adaptive learning systems, and translation apps, students now have a wide variety of options for practicing and improving their English skills. The question that remains, though, is whether artificial intelligence (AI) can ever completely take the place of human teachers in English Language Teaching (ELT) classrooms.

What teachers bring to the language classroom should be carefully analysed in order to provide an answer to the above question. Human educators do much more for their students than just correct their spelling and grammar mistakes. They also mentor, support, and inspire their students. They can understand when a student is hesitating or feeling frustrated, unlike AI teaching platforms. In additon, they can quickly adjust and modify their lessons to fit the mood and energy of the classroom. This shows that they are able to establish a strong connection with students, something that AI, no matter how advanced, cannot immitate.

There is no denying that AI has significant benefits for English language learners. Students can practise their English at any time and from any location with the help of apps like ChatGPT, chatbots, translation apps, and Duolingo. Furthermore, AI writing tools like Grammarly and Quillbot can provide guidance on appropriate tone, coherence, and clarity in writing rather than playing role of simple spell checkers. Students can easily understand foreign words and sentences with the aid of translation apps like Google Translate and Google Lens. In some cases, the apps might even consider cultural backgorund of the text being translated. Moreover, automated grading systems driven by AI effectively evaluate students’ writing activities. It helps teachers save their time when marking student work. Does this indicate that AI can serve as a tutor who is always available to students in need of assistance? The answer depends on what the student requires form AI.

Even with all of AI’s advantages, human interaction in language classes seems indispensable. In addition to learning vocabulary and grammar, students must also have self-confidence and have a cultural awareness of the language they are learning. Additionally, they might also need their teacher’s emotional support. For instance, a shy student may be scared of or uncomfortable in speaking in English in front of the classmates, and a teacher is very well capable of recognizing this fear and encouraging them to overcome their difficulties. A teacher can understand a student’s frustration, excitement or boredom through the students facial expressions, tone, bodily gestures and do adjustments to the lesson accordingly. These interactions encourage engagement and motivation in ways that AI is still not capable of.

Human teachers also show their excellence in terms of cultural sensitivity. Language is a part and parcel of in culture, and understanding language requires understanding culture. A teacher can make lessons more alive by incorporating stories, novels, poems or everyday examples related to culture that students can easily relate to. Incorporating culture into lessons in this manner not only makes learning more engaging but it also creates an inclusive environment for students where they get to experience how their own cultures and identities are valued and respected. While AI can provide correct information, it cannot recreate the deep cultural understanding and emotional empathy that a human teacher brings to the langauge classroom.

Moreover, the classroom is not only a learning space, but it is also a social space. Teachers interact with their learners as a way of helping them to master langauge. They also encourage colloborations among students and facilitate discussions. In this regard, they play the dual role of mentor and motivator. These are roles that even the most advanced AI tool or platform cannot yet perform. While a chatbot is well capable of correcting grammar, sentence structures and spelling errors, it cannot use gestures such as smiling with a hestitant student to encourage him or her to speak or nod to show approval, or understand the learner’s confusion and change its responses accordingly. These human gestures and qualities create the emotional and social aspects of a classroom, a capablility that AI has yet to aquire.

The reality we need to understand is that AI should be considered a complement to human teaching and not a replacement, at least in the present. Thoughtful use of AI can enhance education in a myriad of ways. It can provide personalized language practice, instant feedback on language-related tasks, and tools for independent learning. It also helps teachers to focus on what machines cannot replace such as building relationships, promoting self-esteem, and igniting curiosity. Imagine a classroom where students can use AI tools to improve their writing or practise dialogue while the instructor helps them understand cultural context, promotes engagement, and praise themn for their accomplishments. A more comprehensive and captivating educational experience could be produced by this collaboration between humans and machines than either could on its own.

AI is probably going to become more and more integrated into education as it develops. However, even though it might change certain aspects of language learning, the human element will always be crucial. English teachers serve as mentors, motivators, and cultural advisors in addition to imparting knowledge. No algorithm can really immitate or duplicate their ability to adapt, empathise, and inspire. AI may ultimately improve education, but it cannot take the place of human teachers’ empathy, comprehension, and connection.

The future of ELT will probably be determined by how teachers and technology work together in the constantly changing field of education. While human educators provide the emotional, social, and cultural guidance that creates self-confident and culturally aware learners, AI can offer convenience, accessibility, and efficiency. By working together, they can establish classrooms where students get to experience language in addition to learning it, fostering their development as communicators, thinkers, and global citizens.

References

Al-Obaydi, L. H. (2024, November 13). Cultural diversity, awareness, and teaching: A study in an EFL context. Retrieved from ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Liqaa-Al-Obaydi/publication/336216511_Cultural_Diversity_Awareness_and_Teaching_A_Study_in_an_EFL_Context/links/5d94a29f458515202b7c04dd/Cultural-Diversity-Awareness-and-Teaching-A-Study-in-an-EFL-Context.pdf

Archana, S., & Rani, K. U. (2017, February). Role of a teacher in English language teaching (ELT). International Journal of Educational Science and Research (IJESR), 7(1), 1-4.

Benetic Gnanaprakasam, J., & Lemaire, R. (2024). The role of AI in automated grading: Enhancing feedback and efficiency. In S. Kadry, Artificial Intelligence and Education – Shaping the Future of Learning (pp. 133-145). London: IntechOpen.

Colace, F., & De Santo, M. (2018, September). Chatbot for E-Learning: A Case of Study. International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics Research, 7(5).

Crestel C. (2024). Cultural sensitivity in English language teaching: Understanding and addressing linguistic and cultural barriers. IRE Journals.

Ms. M. I. S de Silva
Lecturer (Unconfirmed)
Department of English Language Teaching
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka