CLIC Workshop for Language Teachers

Navigating AI in the Language Classroom

Saturday, May 3, 2025

10 am - 4 pm

While often a source of consternation for language instructors, AI technologies (e.g., machine translation tools, generative AI tools) are an important component of language education today. Using a digital literacies framework, in this workshop we will explore how these technologies function (tool functionality); when and where they can/should be used (tool ethicality); and if and how they can support language learning (tool use). Participants will apply this understanding to support 1) their own work as educators and 2) in the guided adaptation and development of concrete pedagogical activities to use with learners in the classroom.

This year's workshop presenters come from the Berkeley Language Center at the University of California, Berkeley.

Kimberly Vinall (PhD, University of California, Berkeley) is the Executive Director of the Berkeley Language Center (BLC) at University of California, Berkeley. With publications in the fields of SLA and CALL, her research explores the critical potentials of digital tools, like machine translation, to support language/culture learning and the development of digital literacy skills. Dr. Vinall has almost 20 years of experience teaching and developing curricular materials at the university and community college levels, and 15 years of experience as a language program director.

Emily Hellmich (PhD, University of California, Berkeley) is the Associate Director of the Berkeley Language Center. Her research focuses on the impacts of digital technologies on language, language use, and language education, with particular interest in how language learners use (and don’t use) digital technologies to support their language learning. Dr. Hellmich has almost 15 years of experience as a language teacher, as a developer of pedagogical materials across all levels of the language curriculum, and as a language teacher educator.

Workshop Registration

Click on this link to register for the workshop.