THE ROLE OF AI IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING WITHIN TECHNICAL UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

The modern technological shift greatly changes various aspects of people’s lives, including education. This transformation also influences the way knowledge is disseminated, acquired, and evaluated, including the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into traditional learning methods. Modern artificial intelligence offers advanced tools for personalized learning, automated assessment, and interactive content delivery. This raises a critical and timely question: can AI truly replace human English language teachers, especially in the specialized environments of technical universities? This article aims to address this question through a comprehensive analysis. The research first analyses the current state of artificial intelligence implementation in language learning, illustrating its most impactful applications and functionalities by reviewing recent research. It also states the diverse and often underestimated responsibilities, unique contributions, and inherent pedagogical value that English language teachers bring to technical university settings. Finally, the study critically evaluates the strengths and limitations of artificial intelligence against human roles. Our findings indicate that while AI has significant advantages, such as 24/7 accessibility, instant and personalized feedback, data collection for tailored instruction, and automation of routine tasks, it has limitations that currently prevent it from fully replacing human English language teachers in technical universities. AI does not provide a genuine understanding, empathy, and the ability to handle complex, unstructured human communication. Furthermore, AI cannot complete the human teacher’s role in motivation, providing socio-emotional support, or introducing cultural context that is essential for effective communication. AI also cannot replace human teachers in curriculum design, authentic assessment, mentorship, and adapting to unforeseen classroom dynamics. The article concludes that AI cannot completely replace human English language teachers, instead, a more realistic and beneficial future lies in a human-AI collaboration.