Using Artificial Intelligence in TESOL: Some Ethical and Pedagogical Considerations

Abstract While recent and significant progress made in natural language processing and artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to drastically influence the field of language education, many language educators and administrators remain unfamiliar with these recent technological advances and their pedagogical implications. The primary purpose of this paper is to raise the awareness of language educators regarding ethical and pedagogical issues stemming from student, teacher, and administrator use of generative AI tools such as large language models (LLMs) and AI chatbots. These issues include ethical ways of teaching with AI, questions of ownership, writing skills development, the accuracy and reliability of generated output, the potential to widen the educational divide, and AI bias. We conclude by offering suggestions for language educators and calling for further discussion.