Editor’s note: The content in this piece was originally posted to BNBU’s website and was translated into English by Google and adapted for TIRF communications. Click here to see the original.
On May 17, 2025, the English Language Center of the School of General Education of Beijing Normal University Hong Kong Baptist University (BNBU, formerly United International College [UIC]) and TIRF jointly hosted a symposium titled “AI Empowered English Teaching and Learning.” More than 200 education experts, scholars, and industry experts from China, the United States, Cuba, Mexico, and Canada discussed how AI technology can be used to innovate English language teaching and learning and promote innovative developments in the field of education.
Professor Chen Zhi, President of BNBU, pointed out that artificial intelligence is redefining the way people communicate, learn, and teach, and that guiding this change has become a key challenge for institutions worldwide. He noted that the symposium was an important platform for exploring the application of AI in language education. Prof. Chen commented that future education models need to achieve the balance of human-machine collaboration, which not only utilizes the power of AI, but also maintains emotional communication and interaction between teachers and students.
In his speech, Professor Liu Jun, President of City University of Macau and President of TIRF, elaborated on the importance of AI technology in language education. He pointed out that we are currently in a critical period of digital transformation of education and called on educators around the world to work together to meet the challenges of the AI era.
Keynote Speeches
The symposium included several keynote speeches. TIRF Trustee Professor David Nunan, a world-renowned scholar in the field of applied linguistics and English teaching; Professor Zhu Tianqing, Vice Dean of the School of Data Science at City University of Macau; Professor Li Wenzhong from the School of Foreign Languages at Zhejiang Gongshang University; and Dr. Leng Jing, Associate Professor of the Department of Educational Information Technology at East China Normal University. All of them provided informative presentations on a range of topics and engaged in panel discussions afterwards.
Professor David Nunan pointed out, in his speech titled “The Role of AI in Revolutionizing Language Learning and Teaching,” that generative AI provides unprecedented opportunities for educational institutions to achieve their missions. He said that AI tools can help students develop higher-order thinking, creative problem solving, collaborative learning, reflective learning, and independent learning. He also discussed the profound impact of AI on educational assessment.
In her speech “AI for Language Education: New Opportunities and Challenges,” Professor Zhu Tianqing provided an in-depth analysis of the multi-dimensional impact of AI on language education. She emphasized its potential in creating personalized learning paths and popularizing educational resources, while also pointing out challenges such as data privacy and ethical issues.
In his speech “AI Powering Learning-Driven Concordancing for Academic Writing”, Professor Li Wenzhong systematically reviewed the historical development of corpus learning. He innovatively proposed a teaching method that combines AI technology with corpus linguistics.
Associate Professor Leng Jing’s talk, titled “From Promise to Practice: Empowering Argumentative Writing with Generative AI,” introduced how to use GenAI to empower argumentative writing. She used several case studies to demonstrate the actual effect of AI tools in improving students’ argumentative writing ability and pointed out the importance of cultivating students’ critical thinking.
TIRF Trustee David Nunan, & TIRF President Jun Liu
Panel Discussions & Workshops
The symposium also included two in-depth panel discussions with the panelists. Professor David Nunan, Professor Zhu Tianqing, and Professor Liu Jun had a lively discussion on the paradigm shift in language education in the AI era. Professor Li Wenzhong and Associate Professor Leng Jing interacted with the participants to discuss practical applications around the integration of academic English, corpus linguistics, and AI technology.
Finally, the event featured several interactive workshops, allowing participants opportunities to learn more about AI in language classrooms. These sessions were led by a number of UIC faculty members and provided hands-on opportunities for attendees to experiment with how AI can be used by teachers and students.
Closing
At the closing of the event, Professor Liu Jun summarized the day’s activities throughout the event. He noted that attendees (1) had heard from keynote speakers regarding some of the latest developments in AI technology and its impact on education; (2) shared in interactive discussions focused on practical issues such as ethics and teaching strategies; and (3) engaged in practical workshops allowing participants to gain hands-on experience and a more nuanced understanding of the application of AI tools in the classroom. Upon the completion of the event, many participants noted that they had a better understanding of some of the new trends in AI technologies that are powering language education, and that they hope to continue to learn more about how such technological advancements can further assist them in their profession.
