Webinar – Working Smarter, Not Harder: Applying SLA Theory to AI Use in Language Education

Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 10-11:30 AM Arizona (UTC-7)

Keeping up with the rapid pace of development of AI tools, such as ChatGPT, can be exhausting. The number and types of models and tools seem to grow daily. Language educators, who are often already overburdened with responsibilities, now have to make additional decisions as to how, when, and to what degree AI tools should be used inside and outside of the classroom to support student learning.

This webinar aims to assist language educators in navigating these questions and in learning how to use these AI tools more effectively. Taking a hands-on and experiential approach, attendees will roll up their sleeves, grapple with ChatGPT, hone their prompt-engineering skills, and gain new insights into how these novel tools can assist them in their specific teaching contexts. To guide us in this endeavor, we will draw upon Ingley and Pack’s (2023) framework for prompt-engineering, and our knowledge of second language acquisition theory to guide our decision-making process. By applying evidence-based principles from second language acquisition theory, we can use generative AI tools thoughtfully and intentionally, potentially empowering us to work smarter, not harder.

Attendees will leave with concrete strategies for prompt-engineering, practical applications for their classrooms, and a clearer understanding of the potential role of AI in augmenting language education. This webinar is geared toward all language educators, regardless of their experience in using generative AI.

Bio:

Austin Pack is an Assistant Professor of English Language Teaching and Learning at Brigham Young University—Hawaii where he teaches linguistics, TESOL, and English as an International Language. He enjoys designing, implementing, and researching innovative and engaging approaches to language learning and teaching. Key areas of his research include second language motivation, complex dynamic systems, and computer-assisted language learning (CALL). Dr. Pack has authored more than 30 journal articles and book chapters. His recent research, which focuses on using generative AI tools for English teaching and learning, has been published in venues including TESOL Quarterly, TESOL Journal, Computers & Education: Artificial Intelligence, and the International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education.