CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY AI in ESL: Understanding, Implementing, and Navigating Opportunities and Challenges

AI in Education: Embracing Innovation with Purpose
Michael Pasquale

This talk opens our exploration of “AI in Education,” highlighting its potential to transform teaching and learning across diverse contexts—schools, community programs, churches, and beyond. Together, we’ll reflect on how AI can shape the future of education while emphasizing themes of hospitality, human connection, and ethical integration. In this digital age, how can educators in all settings balance innovation with purpose, ensuring that technology enhances learning and fosters meaningful relationships? This session invites us to embrace the opportunities AI offers while keeping the heart of education at the forefront.

An Opportunity to Explore: Navigating AI Tools for the Language Classroom
Meredith Bricker

Educators value the importance of harnessing technology to create creative, relevant instruction, yet we often lack the time needed to engage, experiment, and discern appropriate classroom uses. In this workshop, participants will explore AI tools, troubleshooting challenges and sharing opportunities in order to better understand these tools and develop effective classroom applications for our students.

Workshop #1 – Multimodal Approaches to Pronunciation Teaching
Michael Pasquale

This workshop explores innovative methods to enhance pronunciation instruction using multimodal resources such as visual aids, auditory feedback, and kinesthetic activities. It also highlights how AI technologies can provide personalized feedback and support adaptive learning. Participants will engage in practical discussions and interactive demonstrations designed to address the needs of diverse learning environments, from classrooms to community-based programs. The session will also explore strategies for overcoming challenges in implementing these approaches.

Workshop #2 – Practical AI Tools for Every Educator: Hands-On Strategies for the Classroom
Brian Pickerd

This workshop is designed for educators of all backgrounds, from schools to community and church programs, who are new to using AI tools in their teaching. Focusing on simplicity and practicality, this session introduces a selection of user-friendly AI tools that can enhance lesson planning, support personalized learning, and streamline everyday tasks. Participants will receive step-by-step guidance, explore key features of each tool, and learn how to integrate them into their specific teaching contexts. Whether you’re a tech novice or looking to expand your toolkit, this hands-on workshop will leave you feeling confident and inspired to start using AI in your educational setting.

The 2025 ESL Conference will be held at Cornerstone Theological Seminary on the campus of Cornerstone University. CTS is building 8 on the campus map.

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Meredith Bricker

Meredith Bricker graduated from Georgia State University in 2005 with her M.A. in Applied Linguistics. Since then, she has worked in a variety of English for Academic Purposes settings as an English teacher and teacher trainer. She is currently a Lecturer in the English Language Institute at the University of Michigan, teaching academic writing and oral communication courses to graduate and undergraduate students. Over the past twenty years, her research interests have included developing effective tools for written and oral language assessment, enhancing students’ source use in academic writing, and most recently, working with perceptions and uses of AI in the language classroom. Meredith chaired the 2024 MITESOL Conference and now serves as Past President on the executive board of the Michigan TESOL affiliate. She is a volunteer peer reviewer for the Commission on English Language Accreditation (CEA) and serves on the board of the Northview Mentor Program in Grand Rapids, where she lives with her husband and two children.

Dr. Michael Pasquale

Michael Pasquale is professor of linguistics and director of the TESOL program at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He earned his Ph.D. in Linguistics from Michigan State University. He was a Fulbright Senior Specialist at the Universidad Nacional Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo (Huaraz, Peru). Dr. Pasquale is a seasoned educator and researcher specializing in the intersection of AI and language teaching. He has presented internationally at conferences on the integration of AI in education, showcasing innovative approaches to language instruction. Additionally, his scholarly contributions include published articles exploring the ethics of AI and its implications for teaching and vocation, demonstrating his commitment to thoughtful and responsible integration of technology in education.

Brian Pickerd

Brian Pickerd is an affiliate professor of Linguistics and teacher trainer at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also teaches German and French at Rockford High School in Rockford, Michigan. Brian earned a master’s degree from Aquinas College in education with a focus on language acquisition and bachelor’s degrees in German, English, French and international studies. His teaching portfolio includes courses in computational linguistics and corpus linguistics, reflecting his expertise in integrating linguistics and technology.