Humanising Language Teaching in the Age of AI
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66947/pasaa.v72i1.3279Keywords:
Humanising Language Teaching, Teacher-AI Collaboration, Digital Literacy, Digital Well-being, Artificial IntelligenceAbstract
While language teachers widely acknowledge affordances of digital technologies for enhancing language learning and teaching, an accompanying sense of disquiet has intensified as technological innovation increasingly sets instructional agenda and undermines our autonomy. In particular, the growing influence of algorithms, large-scale data analytics, and, more recently, artificial intelligence has raised concerns that decision-making power is progressively shifting away from human teachers, prompting critical questions about teacher agency, well-being, and meaningful human interaction within technology-mediated language teaching environments. Drawing on contemporary research in Computer-assisted Language Learning (CALL), the paper conceptualises “humanising pedagogy in language teaching” through five interrelated dimensions: personalisation, digital literacy, digital well-being, positive computing, and human relationships and interaction. Based on these considerations, the paper then discusses not only how teachers can remain relevant as human teachers, but also how they can support their learners as they continue to interact with AI tools. The paper concludes by offering future directions regarding how language teachers can coexist and collaborate with technology, especially artificial intelligence though teacher-AI collaboration (TAC) framework.
References
Baker, R. S. (2016). Stupid tutoring systems, intelligent humans. International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education, 26(2), 600–614.
Bandura, A. (1986). Social Foundations of Thought and Action: A Social Cognitive Theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Bandura, A. (2001). Social cognitive theory: An agentic perspective. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.1
Calvo, R. A., & Peters, D. (2014). Positive computing: technology for wellbeing and human potential. MIT press.
Chapelle, C. A. (2025). Generative AI as game changer: Implications for language education. System, 132, 103672 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2025.103672
Choi, K. Y., Wu, C., & Moorhouse, B. L. (2025). Exploring the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in English language teaching: Voices from in-service teachers at an early-adopting Hong Kong secondary school. Technology in Language Teaching & Learning, 7(3), 102516. https://doi.org/10.29140/tltl.v7n3.102516
Clandfield, L., & Hadfield, J. (2017). Interaction Online. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009024587
Creely, E., Barnes, M., Tour, E., Henderson, M., Waterhouse, P., Pena, M. A., & Patel, S. V. (2025). Exploring attitudes to generative AI in education for English as an additional language (EAL) adult learners. ReCALL, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0958344024000314
Downes, S. (2016). Personal and Personalized Learning. EMMA Newsletter, Online, European Multiple MOOCs Aggregator. https://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?post=65065
Du, X., & Curdt-Christiansen, X. L. (2026). Teacher agency in practiced language policy in higher education in East and Southeast Asia (2010–2025): A systematic review. Teaching and Teacher Education, 171, 105345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2025.105345
Freire, P. (1970). Pedagogy of the Oppressed. New York: Continuum Books.
Garrison, D. R. (2007). Online community of inquiry review: Social, cognitive, and teaching presence issues. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 11(1), 61-72. https://www.learntechlib.org/p/104064/
Gijsen, L. , Canto, S. , & Jauregi-Ondarra, K. (2024). Virtual exchange as a tool for intercultural communicative competence development in contemporary foreign language education. In R. Hampel & U. Stickler (Ed.). Bloomsbury Handbook of Language Learning and Technology (pp. 257–272). London: Bloomsbury Academic. https://www.bloomsburycollections.com/encyclopedia-chapter?docid=b-9781350340350&tocid=b-9781350340350-chapter18
Hsieh, C. (2024). Mobile‐Assisted Language Learning (MALL). The TESOL encyclopedia of English language teaching, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118784235.eelt1053
Jitpaisarnwattana, N. (2024). Idea sharing: Using ChatGPT for diagnostic writing assessment. PASAA, 69, 561–574. DOI: 10.58837/CHULA.PASAA.69.18
Jitpaisarnwattana, N. (2025). The effects of a personalised learning plan in a language MOOC on learners’ oral presentation skills . The JALT CALL Journal, 21(2), 102601. https://doi.org/10.29140/jaltcall.v21n2.102601
Jitpaisarnwattana, N., Darasawang, P., & Reinders, H., (2022). Delving into Personalisation in a Language MOOC. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 21 (1), 92-109. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.21.1.6
Jitpaisarnwattana, N., & Reinders, H. (2025). Mobile-assisted language research: Language learning analytics in MALL. In L. McCallum & D. Tafazoli (Eds.), The Palgrave encyclopedia of computer-assisted language learning. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-51447-0_333-1
Kim, J. (2023). Leading teachers’ perspective on teacher-AI collaboration in education. Education and Information Technologies, 1–32. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-023-12109-5
Kohnke, L. (2025). Generative AI. In L. McCallum & D. Tafazoli (Eds.), The Palgrave encyclopedia of computer-assisted language learning. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-51447-0_100-1
Lee, S., Jeon, J., McKinley, J., & Rose, H. (2025). Generative AI and English language teaching: A Global Englishes perspective. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 45, 85–108. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0267190525100184
Li, B., Tan, Y. L., Wang, C., & Lowell, V. (2025). Two years of innovation: A systematic review of empirical generative AI research in language learning and teaching. Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, 100445. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2025.100445
Matthews, B., & Peer Mohamed, M. S. (2025). Generative AI, ethics, and language learning. In L. McCallum & D. Tafazoli (Eds.), The Palgrave encyclopedia of computer-assisted language learning. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-51447-0_94-2
Moorhouse, B. L., & Wong, K. M. (2025). Generative artificial intelligence and language teaching. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009618823
Ng, D. T. K., & Chu, S. K. W. (2021). Motivating Students to Learn AI Through Social Networking Sites: A Case Study in Hong Kong. Online Learning, 25(1), 195–208.
O'Dowd, R. (2025). Virtual Exchange in the new educational landscape: Challenges for foreign language teachers. Language Learning & Technology, 29(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.64152/10125/73659
Palalas, A., Pegrum, M., & Dell, D. (2024). Regaining focus: Promoting attentional literacy in digital higher education. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 40(6), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.14742/ajet.9627
Pavlenko, A. (2013). The affective turn in SLA: From ‘affective factors’ to ‘language desire’ and ‘commodification of affect’. In D. Gabryś-Barker & J. Bielska (Eds.), The affective dimension in second language acquisition (pp. 3–28). Multilingual Matters.
Pegrum, M. (2025). Super jagged literacies: Superdiversity, jagged profiles, and digital literacies in refugee and migrant education. In E. Tour, E. Creely, P. Waterhouse & M. Henderson (Eds.), Digital empowerment for refugee and migrant learners: Applying strengths-based practice to adult education. Routledge.
https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003422891-4
Pegrum, M., & Palalas, A. (2021). Attentional literacy as a new literacy: Helping students deal with digital disarray. Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, 47(2). https://doi.org/10.21432/cjlt28037
Pegrum, M., Hockly, N., & Dudeney, G. (2022). Digital literacies (2nd ed.). Routledge.
Reinders, H., Kukulska-Hulme, A. & Wilson, A. (2024). Humanizing technology in language learning and teaching. Oxford University Press.
Reinhardt, J., & Bain, L. (2026). Digital games and gaming in language learning and teaching. Language Teaching, 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444826101177
Salazar, M. C. (2013). A humanizing pedagogy: Reinventing the principles and practice of Education as a Journey toward Liberation. Review of Research in Education, 37 (1), 121–148.
Stockwell, G., & Wang, Y. (2025). Framing human-AI collaboration in language education. Technology in Language Teaching & Learning, 7(4), 103824. https://doi.org/10.29140/tltl.v7n4.103824
Tour, E., Pegrum, M., Macdonald, S. (2025). AI Literacy Practices. In: McCallum, L., Tafazoli, D. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Computer-Assisted Language Learning. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-51447-0_93-1
Trust, T., Whalen, J., & Mouza, C. (2023). ChatGPT: Challenges, opportunities, and implications for teacher education. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, 23(1), 1–23. https://citejournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/v23i1editorial1.pdf
Wetzel, J., Burkhardt, H., Cheema, S., Kang, S., Pead, D., Schoenfeld, A., & VanLehn, K. (2018, June). A preliminary evaluation of the usability of an AI-infused orchestration system. In the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education (pp.379–383). Springer.
Xu, X., Chan, F. M., & Yilin, S. (2020). Personal learning environment: an experience with ESP teacher training. Interactive Learning Environments, 28(6), 779–794. https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2018.1552872
Published
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2026 PASAA: A Journal of Language Teaching and Learning

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.


