AI in Subject Departments – MFL case-study

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We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with some of our forward-thinking Modern Foreign Languages teachers to discuss how they’ve been incorporating AI into their classrooms. It’s fair to say we were impressed by their enthusiasm and innovative approaches!

Karine Bonnal, Head of French, shared how they’ve been exploring AI throughout the year. The department have found AI incredibly useful for creating prose and translation exercises based on authentic French articles which the students then critiqued. Karine emphasized that it’s not just about letting the AI do the work – they’re learning that choosing high quality source material and promoting critical thinking is absolutely crucial.

A number of the departments in MFL here are also using ElevenLabs, an AI text-to-voice tool, to turn written material into listening exercises. For Celia Ortiz from the Spanish department Elevenlabs has been a game-changer. The Spanish department are using it to create listening exercises that expose their students to a wide range of Hispanophone accents and dialects. The French department have been similarly impressed and have also been experimenting with the AI tool Mizou for IGCSE speaking and writing practice: students can act on high quality, AI-generated feedback.

Both teachers highlighted an interesting new feature they’ve been trialling in Microsoft Teams. Their students have been using an AI-powered tool for pronunciation practice at home. It gives them instant feedback on their speaking – almost like having a patient tutor available 24/7.

Of course, it hasn’t all been plain sailing. Both Karine and Celia mentioned that sometimes the AI-generated voices need a bit of tweaking to sound more natural. However, they were quick to emphasise how much time these tools are saving them, allowing for more creative lesson planning and personalised instruction.

What really stood out to us was how the MFL department is embracing NLCS’s approach to AI. They appreciate the training provided for both staff and students, ensuring that AI is used innovatively and responsibly. Celia summed it up well: it’s not about replacing their teaching methods, but enhancing them.

It’s clear from our conversations that the MFL department is leading the way in showing how AI can enrich language learning. We can’t wait to see what they come up with next!

Thanks to Celia Ortiz, Teacher of Spanish and Karine Bonnal, Head of French from MFL for speaking to us.