Featured Panel 1: Rethinking Applied Linguistics and TESOL in the Age of AI: Corpus, Agency, Assessment, and the Transformation of Pedagogy
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This featured panel examines how artificial intelligence is reshaping applied linguistics through evolving pedagogies, research practices, and reconfigured notions of agency. Bringing together perspectives from TESOL, computer-assisted language learning, language assessment, and corpus linguistics, the panel explores how generative and multimodal AI technologies are transforming language teaching, learning, and analysis. The first presentation demonstrates how AI-assisted error annotation enables large-scale learner corpus development, expanding possibilities for applied linguistic research. The second examines how pre-service language teachers from diverse cultural backgrounds engage with AI during academic tasks, revealing emerging patterns of interaction and shifting forms of learner agency. The third investigates AI-supported L2 test development, highlighting both its efficiency and the need for human oversight to ensure validity and rigor. Together, these contributions highlight both opportunities for innovation and critical challenges, offering pedagogically grounded insights into responsible and meaningful transformation in an increasingly AI-mediated applied linguistics landscape.
Featured Panel 2: Beyond Language Learning: Multiple Pathways in the Bilingual Digital Study Companion Program
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This panel brings together principal investigators from four universities implementing innovative digital companion programs that pair university tutors with elementary and middle school learners to develop English language proficiency alongside meaningful content learning through technology-enhanced pedagogies. While sharing common commitments to accessibility, equity, and engagement, each institution has adapted the model to address distinct educational priorities and linguistic contexts.
Presentations showcase diverse approaches: SDG-focused scaffolding supporting sustainability literacy and English reception skills (Tunghai University); CLIL-based integration of bilingual education with Education for Sustainable Development examining lesson design quality and university-school partnerships (National Taipei University of Education); inquiry-oriented and game-based review designs exploring AI-assisted scaffolding for communication (National Chung Hsing University); and scalable multilingual digital ecosystems extending beyond bilingual frameworks to include indigenous and heritage languages (National Pingtung University).
From Kahoot and Jamboard to AI-assisted prompting, panelists will address how interactive digital platforms democratize language learning access for underserved populations. Discussions will explore tutor training models, technological integration strategies, assessment approaches, and implementation challenges—including scalability, resource management, and sustaining university-community partnerships. The panel offers insights into designing equitable, technology-enhanced language programs that foster both linguistic development and broader educational goals aligned with Taiwan's evolving multilingual education landscape.
Featured Panel 3: Designing AI-Mediated Language Learning for the Future: Integrating Pedagogical Agents, Computational Thinking, and Self-Directed Learning
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The rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and computational thinking (CT) is reshaping language education, calling for innovative pedagogical designs that support both teacher development and learner engagement. This panel brings together three complementary perspectives on AI-enhanced language learning, focusing on pedagogical AI agent design, interdisciplinary instructional innovation, and teacher learning processes.
Across the presentations, GenAI is explored as a medium for designing pedagogical AI agents that support differentiated instruction and writing development, as well as a tool for fostering self-directed learning (SDL) among preservice teachers in developing digital teaching materials. In addition, CT-based learning environments and AI-powered applications are introduced to promote authentic language use, personalization, and engagement through interdisciplinary approaches.
Collectively, these perspectives highlight the critical role of teacher agency, AI literacy, and instructional design in effectively integrating AI into language education. The panel further invites discussion on how AI-mediated learning environments can be designed to support diverse learners, enhance SDL competencies, and bridge the gap between technological innovation and pedagogical practice.