Will AI Replace the English Teacher? Rethinking Roles, Relationships, and Responsibility
Will AI Replace the English Teacher? Rethinking Roles, Relationships, and Responsibility
At the recent TESOL Ecuador Conference, two University of Utah educators, Randall Davis and Rus Wilson from the English Language Institute (ELI), tackled one of the most pressing questions in education today: Will AI replace human educators? Their plenary session, titled “Will AI Replace the English teacher? Rethinking Roles, Relationships, and Responsibility,” explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping language learning and what it means for teachers worldwide.
AI: A Tool, Not a Threat
Davis and Wilson emphasized that AI is not ending teaching; it is changing it. Their research reveals measured optimism among educators: while some fear job loss, many see AI as “just another tool we need to learn to use.” Survey data from their session showed moderate concern (average score: 2.72 on a 5-point scale) about AI replacing teachers, but the consensus was clear: human connection remains irreplaceable.
Three Shifts for the Future
The presentation highlighted three critical areas where teachers must adapt to remain indispensable:
- Roles – Teachers can refocus on what AI cannot replicate: unplugged learning, experiential activities, and fostering creativity through constraint.
- Relationships – AI lacks empathy and emotional intelligence. Language learning thrives on vulnerability, authenticity, and compassionate listening—qualities only humans bring.
- Responsibility – Educators must guide ethical AI use by teaching digital literacy, ensuring transparency, and promoting equity in access to tools, particularly in low-resource environments.
Key Takeaways
- AI offers benefits like real-time feedback and content development, but it cannot replace the human ability to connect, empathize, and inspire.
- A recurring theme in respondents’ feedback mirrored findings from Davis and Wilson’s work—the belief that teachers are the “real intelligence,” and that the priority is helping educators, teacher candidates, and students learn to use AI thoughtfully.
Why It Matters
As AI becomes more integrated into classrooms, the question is not whether teachers will disappear, but how they will evolve. At the University of Utah, thought leaders like Davis and Wilson are ensuring that technology empowers, not replaces, educators.
Davis and Wilson will also be presenting on the topic of AI compliance in the classroom at the TESOL International Convention in March 2026 in Salt Lake City. This annual event brings together thousands of educators from over 100 countries, and sessions on AI have dominated conversation during the past few years.
Contact:
Randall Davis (randall.davis@utah.edu)
Rus Wilson (rus.wilson@utah.edu)