Opening AI for Language Learning
by Mathias Schulze, Philip Hubbard
018 Can chatbots tutor?
About this podcast
Aimed at language educators seeking clarity, practical insights, and critical reflections in the rapidly changing AI landscape, the Opening AI for Language Learning (OAILL) podcast explores the evolving intersection of linguistics, pedagogy, and AI in language teaching and learning. Initiated by the Language and Applied Research Center at San Diego State University (SDSU-LARC), it features hosts Mat Schulze, Professor of German and Director of SDSU-LARC, and Phil Hubbard, Senior Lecturer Emeritus at the Stanford University Language Center, longtime colleagues with decades of experience in technology for language education. In place of the all-too-common hype surrounding AI, they offer conversations in which they and occasional guests share their research and practice-informed perspectives, commentaries on others’ work, and their own professional and personal AI experiences.
We are grateful for the support for Opening AI for Language Learning by the Language and Applied Research Center at San Diego State University and the Southern Area International Languages Network – SAILN – which is part of the California World Languages Project.
Our producer and editor is Chris Brown. Mari Ocando Finol is the production coordinator of OAILL. Our music was composed by Tillmann Spiegl. Live conversations are moderated and the podcast is promoted by Shahnaz Ahmadeian. Evan Rubin is our publicist.
Episodes drop on Tuesday every 2 weeks.
And remember: Artificial intelligence is no substitute for natural ignorance.
Links:
Phil Hubbard: https://web.stanford.edu/~efs/phil/
Mat Schulze: https://pantarhei.press/mat/
The PantaRhei.press blog about OAILL: https://pantarhei.press/oaill/
The SAILN website about OAILL: https://larc.sdsu.edu/sailn/oaill
Episodes
- 018 Can chatbots tutor? · 33 min · Episode 18Can chatbots really tutor language learners—or are they just good at sounding like they can? In this episode, the hosts explore what it takes for AI to move beyond conversation…
- 017 AI detectors do not work · 32 min · Episode 17In this episode, Mat and Phil continue to explore Sam Illingworth’s Slow AI, this time turning their attention to AI detectors. Beyond the question of whether AI detectors work…
- 016 Good (Slow) AI is excellent · 26 min · Episode 16When should you use AI, and when should you leave it alone? In today’s episode, we dig into the central question of Sam Illingworth’s book Slow AI: Know When to Use AI and When…
- Teaching with AI: 2 times 3 takeaways · 30 min · Episode 15Mat and Phil look back to look forward: What can the history of language teaching teach us about its future with AI? If generative AI represents something fundamentally new, does…
- What's next, AI? In teacher education · 30 min · Episode 14How can language teachers keep up with AI when the technology itself keeps changing? And how can teacher educators prepare future teachers for a landscape that will likely look…
- The Chinese Room Argument · 29 min · Episode 13What does it mean to understand a language? Today’s generative AI tools can produce remarkably convincing linguistic forms, but can these systems understand the language they…
- CALICO 2026 in Oxford (Part 2) · 37 min · Episode 12What can generative AI do for language teaching and learning—and where does it fall short? Mat and Phil beam us back to Oxford, Ohio, for Part 2 of their conversations from the…
- CALICO 2026 in Oxford (Part 1) · 33 min · Episode 11What are researchers learning about the role of generative AI in language teaching and learning? Recorded live at the 2026 CALICO Conference, Mat and Phil interview Robert…
- What have you GenAI-SIP(pe)D lately? · 25 min · Episode 10Mat and Phil reflect on what their own Sustained Integrated Professional Development (SIPD) around GenAI is like They discuss books, podcasts, courses, tools, and the…
- AI as the Imitation Game · 30 min · Episode 9What does it really mean for a machine to "think"? In this episode, Mat and Phil explore the life and legacy of pioneering mathematician Alan Turing, whose work laid the…
- To AI or Not to AI? · 30 min · Episode 8Exploring two contrasting perspectives on AI in education by Andreas Horn and Emily Bender, Mat and Phil reflect on AI’s promises and pitfalls, what artificial intelligence…
- AI and learner training: Interview with Glenn Stockwell · 32 min · Episode 7Mat and Phil welcome their first-ever guest, Glenn Stockwell, to discuss professional development, learner training, and the ethical, legal, and policy challenges of generative…
- TESOL goes AI · 37 min · Episode 6In this episode, Phil reports to Mat on his adventures at the TESOL 2026 Convention in Salt Lake City, March 24-27. Phil talked with exhibitors and attended as many AI-focused…
- AI and professional development according to Glenn Stockwell · 32 min · Episode 5In this episode, Mat and Phil discuss a book chapter by Glenn Stockwell, in which he writes about professional development and learner training for effective use of AI. The…
- Welcome to Sustained Integrated Professional Development · 31 min · Episode 4Covering the final part of their paper, Mat and Phil first outline the concept of GenAI Sustained Integrated Professional Development and then discuss how language teachers can…
- GenAI Stuff you need to know now (part 2) · 45 min · Episode 3Mat and Phil return with six additional knowledge areas and skills that language teachers need in order to navigate AI thoughtfully, including course and lesson creation…
- GenAI stuff you need to know now (part 1) · 36 min · Episode 2Learning about GenAI? Mat and Phil talk about the first four (of ten) knowledge areas and skills language teachers should aim to have now: prompting, ethics, chatbots, and…
- What the LLM? · 40 min · Episode 1What is a large language model (LLM), actually? How do these systems work? Why can they feel like human conversation partners, and why is that perception misleading? In this…
