Plenary Speaker

Being and English Teacher in the Artificial Intelligence Era
Prof. Dr. Perihan Savaş
Department of Foreign Language Education, Middle East Technical University, Türkiye
perihans@metu.edu.tr

Abstract
The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-assisted and Generative AI (GenAI) tools has been redefining the roles of English teachers and learners, especially over the last four years. The exponential growth of AI both in and out of English classrooms among learners has led to a paradigm shift not only in the way teachers teach and assess English, but also in the way they view their professional roles. The main focus of this talk will be how English teachers’ identities, agency, and roles have been changing as a result of this paradigm shift. This shift comes with certain challenges, benefits, and potential. Even though it can be difficult to keep up with fast-paced developments in AI, it is one of the primary roles of teachers to overcome the challenges, maximize the benefits, and explore the potential of AI use in English classes so that we can optimize language learning environments for our learners. Thus, this talk will also address the ethical and effective integration of AI into English classes as well as how teachers can guide their learners in their AI-supported language studies. In addition, the talk will explore the answers to several critical questions from both human and AI perspectives: “What are our roles and responsibilities?”, “Where do we go from here?”, and “What are the next steps for English teachers in the AI era?”.
Keywords: English as a Foreign Language, Artificial Intelligence, Teacher Roles

Prof. Dr. Perihan Savaş is a faculty member in the Department of Foreign Language Education within the Faculty of Education at Middle East Technical University, Türkiye. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Florida, USA, specializing in Curriculum and Instruction with a major in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), a cognate in Educational Technology, and a minor in Educational Administration. Prof. Savaş has conducted research and authored articles on “computer-mediated communication, the application of technology in teacher education, online gaming, augmented reality, telecollaboration”, and “chatbots”. Her current research and projects focus on “teacher training and faculty support in online education, the integration of technology into TESOL curricula”, and “the ethical and effective implementation of Artificial Intelligence in education”.