Responsible AI Use in the World Language Classroom
In the past, I never addressed AI in my classroom, even though I knew my students were using it (and to be honest, many were using it irresponsibly—translating reading passages, using it to do their classwork/homework assignments for them, etc.). I am NOT making that mistake again moving forward!
One of the first lessons I will be doing at the start of the new school year is Responsible AI Use in the World Language Classroom. AI can be an incredible tool to help support students in their French, Spanish, Italian, and German language learning endeavors, but it can also easily be misused.
We need to explicitly teach students about the benefits AND drawbacks of using AI when learning a new language. My feeling is… they’re already using it, so why not teach them how to use it as a supportive tool, rather than misuse it and potentially face disciplinary consequences for academic dishonesty?
If you suspect your students are using AI in less than responsible ways and need a resource to help them understand acceptable vs. unacceptable AI usage in their World Language class, I invite you to check out my brand new resource.
It includes a slideshow, student guided notes, critical thinking & reflection activities, exit tickets, and a World Language AI/Technology Acceptable Use Policy that you can adopt in your classes.
Click the image below to be taken directly to the product page in my TPT shop, or continue reading to learn more about the perks of teaching responsible AI usage!
Using AI Responsibly in French, Spanish, Italian Class
I’ve put together a resource that includes…
Detailed Lesson Plan
Including Objectives, Directions, and Suggestions for Implementation
EDITABLE Slideshow (Google Slides)
EDITABLE Student Guided Class Notes (Google Doc)
Article & Comprehension Questions
Article Title: “Learning Languages and how AI is Helping”
Class Discussion Questions & Prompts
AI Homework Assignment
Responsible AI Use Reflection Activity
EDITABLE World Language Technology/AI Acceptable Use Policy Template (Google Doc)
Exit Tickets (x2)
Answer Keys
Slideshow & Guided Class Notes
Walk students through a comprehensive lesson that explains what AI is, how AI and language learning can intersect, the benefits of AI, the drawbacks of AI, the skill of language learning (which AI will never be able to replace!), examples of responsible AI use, examples of irresponsible AI use, and more!
The slideshow is completely editable, so you can add and subtract to best suit your students’ needs. This resource also includes guided class notes for students to fill in as you teach the lesson.
Critical Thinking & Reflection Activities
It’s not enough to teach students about AI in their World Language classroom - we need to get them to think critically and reflect on how they might incorporate these new tools into their language learning endeavors.
The activities I include in my Responsible AI Use in the World Language Classroom aim to accomplish just that. Students will read an article about AI and language learning and answer comprehension/discussion questions; an AI homework assignment actually has students use AI to complete the task so that they can realistically see scenarios in which AI is helpful but also scenarios in which AI is unhelpful and flat out wrong.
A brainstorming activity asks students to contemplate ways they will responsibly use AI in the classroom, and irresponsible AI use pitfalls that they will avoid in order to respect the rules and guidelines you’ve established in your classroom.
Exit tickets are included, as well!
AI/Technology Acceptable Use Policy
Last year I established an acceptable use policy for my World Language classroom that clearly delineated which technologies were acceptable, and which weren’t. I’ve included an EDITABLE template that you can use in your own classroom.
Why is this important? Well, we want to make sure our expectations are crystal clear not only to students, but to their parents as well. We don’t want to have to ask a student to redo an assignment because they used AI, or give students a 0 because they used AI and have to field questions/concerns from students themselves or their parents. By establishing (and sharing!) a clear AI acceptable use policy, we are covering our behinds to avoid questioning from students, parents, and even admin.
Pro Tip: Consider placing your Technology Acceptable Use Policy on your desks for parents to read through during Back to School Night. Also consider uploading your policy to Google Classroom in a conspicuous space so that your students can see it. I also print out and photocopy my policy and have students place a copy toward the front of their binder.
Ready to use this resource in your classroom?
Laura S., a WL teacher and department chair, purchased several licenses of this resource for her department at the start of the school year. Here’s what she had to say about it:
“As a WL teacher and department chair, AI and misuse of technology are the bane of my existence. Despite having an academic honesty statement and steps to deal with cheating, students and parents challenged me and my department time after time when a student was accused of plagiarism. I thought these activities were a better alternative for a teachable moment instead of telling students not to cheat. We started doing the activities, and it sparked great conversations about responsible and irresponsible use of AI and tech in school. I liked it so much, I even bought extra licenses for the rest of my department. I highly recommend this!”
If you’d like to grab this awesome resource for your World Language classroom,
click the image below and add one to your cart today!
Happy language teaching,
~ Michael
