Teaching alongside GenAI. Affordances for language teaching and shifting agencies.
(2026) The Routledge Handbook of Language Learning and Technology — ISBN: [9781003412212], 101-128, published
Files
No attached file found for this publication.
Details
- Authors
Decorte, Remy 
- Abstract
- The current availability of (open) Artificial Intelligence tools is destabilizing a series of established practices, beliefs and attitudes in language learning and teaching circles. Reactions range from blind enthusiasm to downright rejection or from simple curiosity to deep unrest, often fed by anxiety-provoking predictions such as ‘AI will soon be replacing teachers’. The present chapter aims to show that a nuanced approach should be adopted when discussing the role of generative AI (GenAI) in language teaching and that ‘teaching alongside AI’ is an option which offers numerous affordances. The first part of the chapter discusses the role of AI in language teaching and learning using the concept of teacher agency to frame the discussion. Sections 2 to 4 provide concrete examples of how teachers can use GenAI before teaching (to plan and develop materials), while teaching (classroom activities) and after teaching. Numerous examples are provided to illustrate that teaching alongside GenAI is possible and that it can boost both teachers’ and learners’ agency. The examples (including prompts, outputs, and suggested inclusion in pedagogical tasks) are provided for a number of key aspects in language teaching. The concluding section provides final comments on the potential of technologies for being both ‘self-building’ (empowering) and ‘self-destroying’ for human users (technology dependence). We plead for investing reflexivity, time and efforts in the former option, whilst not neglecting the dangers of the second. Finally, we discuss the shift of agency that is required to do so while pointing out that this shift is not an overhaul and that it is instrumental in tackling existing educational and pedagogical priorities.
- Affiliations
Citations
Meunier, F., & Decorte, R. (2026). Teaching alongside GenAI. Affordances for language teaching and shifting agencies. In F. Farr and L. Murray (eds) (ed.), The Routledge Handbook of Language Learning and Technology (Routledge, pp. 101-128). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003412212-10