10 Ways AI Can Become a Teacher's Assistant in a Language Class

1. Brainstorming Creative Ideas for Lesson Plans and Activities
Every teacher knows the pressure of coming up with fresh, engaging lesson ideas. AI can be your brainstorming partner, suggesting activities tailored to vocabulary themes or grammatical points. Need a few warm-up activities for a lesson on travel? A quick prompt can produce ideas like role-plays, vocabulary games, or storytelling activities—perfect for jumpstarting your students’ engagement.

Prompt Example:
"Suggest five interactive vocabulary games for beginner-level ESL students focused on daily routines."

Example AI Prompt for Language Learning
To demonstrate these principles, here’s an example prompt that could be used in an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) setting, focusing on conversational skills:

Prompt: "Create a role-play dialogue for an intermediate English class where two characters meet for the first time at a job interview. Use workplace vocabulary such as 'resume,' 'experience,' 'skills,' and 'goals.' Structure each line with character names and keep sentences clear for non-native speakers. Add three discussion questions to prompt students to talk about their own job experiences or aspirations."
With this prompt, the AI will produce a structured, vocabulary-rich dialogue and additional questions, providing a complete classroom activity for practicing English in a realistic context.

2. Adjusting Content Levels for Different Proficiency Groups
Differentiation can be one of the biggest challenges in language teaching. AI can help by adapting content to various proficiency levels. Whether simplifying a news article for beginners or creating complex discussion prompts for advanced students, AI allows you to meet each learner at their level.

Prompt Example:
"Rewrite this passage on environmental conservation for beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels."

3. Generating Vocabulary Lists Tailored to Lesson Topics
Creating relevant vocabulary lists from scratch can be time-consuming. With AI, you can generate lists on any topic—whether it’s shopping, transportation, or technology—and get definitions, synonyms, and example sentences, saving time and enhancing focus.

Prompt Example:
"Create a list of 15 vocabulary words related to transportation for intermediate English learners, with simple definitions."

4. Creating Engaging Visual Aids and Flashcards
Visual aids and flashcards are essential tools for language acquisition, reinforcing words and phrases. AI can assist by providing definitions, sample sentences, or even images that align with specific vocabulary, so you don’t have to start from scratch.

Prompt Example:
"Provide short definitions and example sentences for five common idioms about time (e.g., ‘time flies,’ ‘around the clock’)."

5. Developing Reading Comprehension Exercises
Reading comprehension helps students improve their vocabulary and grammar, but creating passages and questions can take hours. AI can quickly generate reading passages on nearly any topic, along with tailored comprehension questions that test students’ understanding.

Prompt Example:
"Generate a 200-word story about a family road trip, followed by five comprehension questions for intermediate learners."

6. Designing Conversation Practice Scenarios and Role-Play Dialogues
Conversations about practical scenarios—like booking a hotel or ordering at a restaurant—are key for fluency. AI can help you develop conversation scenarios that mimic real-world interactions, giving students opportunities to practice speaking skills in a structured, relevant way.

Prompt Example:
"Write a role-play conversation where a person is booking a hotel room. Include polite questions about prices, available dates, and amenities."

7. Creating Grammar Practice Exercises with Customizable Levels
Grammar drills can be dry, but they’re crucial for building language accuracy. AI can create exercises focusing on specific grammar points, such as verb tenses or conditionals, with the option to customize the difficulty level to match your class.

Prompt Example:
"Write ten sentences practicing the past tense, suitable for beginner ESL students, with fill-in-the-blank answers."

8. Adapting Lesson Materials for Students with Special Needs
One of AI’s most transformative uses in education is its potential to make lessons accessible for all students. You can prompt AI to adjust content for students with special needs by simplifying language, breaking down instructions, or adding visuals—enhancing accessibility without losing content quality.

Prompt Example:
"Rewrite these instructions for making a sandwich in simple, step-by-step language with optional symbols or images for each step."

9. Providing Translation and Multilingual Support
For classrooms with students who speak different languages, AI can offer multilingual support, translating lesson content into students’ native languages. It helps students grasp complex concepts, while teachers focus on reinforcing English language skills.

Prompt Example:
"Translate this set of classroom rules from English to Spanish and include a simplified English version for beginner ESL students."

10. Crafting Study Guides and Summaries for Review
Reviewing material is crucial for retention. AI can condense lengthy reading passages, grammar rules, or vocabulary lists into bite-sized study guides, making it easier for students to study independently and reinforce what they’ve learned in class.

Prompt Example:
"Summarize this article on renewable energy into a list of key points suitable for intermediate-level learners."

AI as a Versatile Teaching Assistant in the Language Classroom
With AI as your assistant, you can streamline prep work, enhance lesson quality, and dedicate more time to what truly matters—teaching. By experimenting with prompts, teachers can unlock AI’s potential as a flexible, efficient partner in the language classroom, offering tailored activities that suit students’ unique needs.