EDCI 612: AI and Multilingual Learners

This guest lecture was part of EDCI 612, a graduate seminar exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and multilingual education. The session, titled **"GenAI Research and Language Education,"** was co-presented with Dr. Victoria Lowell and Belle Li. The presentation covered three interconnected themes: - **Learning Analytics for Multilingual Learners** — How AI-powered tools can track and support language development through data-driven insights, enabling instructors to personalize learning pathways for students with diverse linguistic backgrounds. - **AI Tutors and Self-Directed Language Learning** — Examining the role of conversational AI (e.g., ChatGPT, Doubao) as scaffolding tools for informal digital learning of English (IDLE), and how students use these tools for autonomous language practice beyond the classroom. - **Instructional Design Implications** — Frameworks for integrating GenAI into language curricula while maintaining pedagogical rigor, addressing issues of AI literacy, academic integrity, and equitable access for multilingual populations. The lecture engaged doctoral students in critical discussions about the promises and limitations of GenAI in language education, drawing on recent empirical studies including systematic reviews of 144+ GenAI research articles in language learning.