Future-Ready AI Fluency: Leveraging AI to Foster Critical Transferable Skills in ESL/EAP contexts

Title: Future-Ready AI Fluency: Leveraging AI to Foster Critical Transferable Skills in ESL/EAP Contexts

Type: Workshop

Presenter: Dr. Plamen S. Kushkiev, Professor of English for Academic Purposes and Adult Education, Professional Portfolio

Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Time: 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Location: Virtual (ZOOM link emailed upon registration)

Workshop Description

The rapid integration of generative AI (GenAI) demands an urgent re-examination of the ESL and EAP instructor’s role. Traditional models focused solely on grammatical accuracy and content delivery no longer equip learners for the evolving workforce—particularly in regions like Arizona, where digital, cross-cultural, and professional communication skills are essential.

This workshop reframes AI not as an academic integrity concern, but as a catalyst for cultivating metacognitive, transferable skills in language learners. Participants will explore a pedagogical framework that shifts the instructor’s role from content deliverer to AI literacy mentor and critical thinking facilitator.

Key areas of focus include prompt engineering, recognizing cultural and linguistic biases in AI systems, and enhancing professional communication in multilingual contexts. The session offers actionable strategies for balancing AI assistance with authentic learning, connecting GenAI use to local career pathways, and empowering students to leverage AI for confidence-building and agency. Participants will critique pedagogical models and explore ways to transform curricula to prepare learners for genuine academic, personal, and professional success.

Who Should Attend

ESL/EAP educators, program designers and coordinators, community organizers, professionals interested in bilingual education, equity-based programming, and culturally responsive pedagogy, Anyone seeking practical models for AI-enhanced, student-centered learning environments.

Session Highlights (Learning Objectives):

Participants will:

• Identify conceptual and pedagogical gaps in curriculum design, instructional practices, and learning outcomes.
• Reconceptualize transferable skills within AI-enhanced ESL/EAP contexts.
• Revisit pedagogical frameworks to position learners as allies, co-creators, and active agents in the learning process.

Takeaways for Attendees

1. Strategies to mentor students in ethical and effective AI use
2. Tools to integrate GenAI into curriculum design without compromising authenticity
3. Approaches that foster student agency, confidence, and cross-cultural competence
4. Frameworks for aligning AI-supported instruction with Arizona’s workforce needs

About the Presenter

Dr. Plamen Kushkiev (Ed.D., University of Sheffield, UK) is a Canadian college professor, researcher, and the 2024 Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Scholar Award recipient. His work examines the ethical integration of GenAI in language classrooms through critical AI frameworks. Dr. Kushkiev is a frequent presenter—and plenary and featured speaker—at international ELT conferences, focusing on teacher identity, AI literacy, and educational innovation. He serves as TESL Toronto’s Membership Officer and is the T4T 2026 Conference Co-Chair.

Registration

Please register using the link below:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfr-UtpIXJNWBiElthiClR96Ihr5vAp-8nGXZvhTv2Nyr13Kg/viewform

Once you complete the form, you will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link.

 AZTESOL – Arizona Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages
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