Speaker
Description
The transition to the new General Education Curriculum requires students to develop autonomous learning skills, yet many high schoolers remain passive and lack confidence in speaking due to limited class time. This presentation explores the integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools to foster self-directed English learning in an EFL context. Utilizing a quasi-experimental design over a 100-student cohort, the intervention guided students to employ GenAI as virtual teaching assistants for home preparation. Specifically, students were instructed to generate songs for vocabulary acquisition, design visual flashcards, outline speaking mind maps, create contextual dialogue videos, and self-correct pronunciation using accessible applications. Quantitative analysis via an independent T-test revealed that the experimental group (n=49) significantly outperformed the control group (n=51) in the post-test (M=7.29 vs. M=5.74, p=0.00002). The intervention yielded a very large effect size (SMD=1.02), confirming a strong impact on vocabulary retention and speaking accuracy. Qualitatively, observations indicated heightened engagement, increased autonomy, and improved communicative confidence as students transformed from passive recipients into active content creators. The findings emphasize that when teachers adopt the role of learning designers and instruct students on ethical technology usage, language acquisition is effectively personalized. The study will provide attendees with the pedagogical framework, specific prompts, and practical implementation strategies to seamlessly integrate these tools into their own teaching contexts.
Keywords: Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), high school students, EFL, autonomous learning, vocabulary and speaking skills, digital platforms, AI-assisted learning
Biography
Tran Thi Thuy is a senior EFL educator at Truong Chinh High School, Gia Lai, with 22 years of profound experience in English Language Teaching. As a pioneer in digital transformation and a proactive "learning designer," she is dedicated to integrating Generative AI to transform high school students from passive recipients into active digital content creators, focusing on mastering complex prompts to foster learner autonomy in resource-limited environments.
Nguyen Thi Thuy Phuong, Vice Principal of Truong Chinh High School and a Master of English Language, is a highly distinguished educator with 27 years of extensive experience. A seasoned ELT contributor and four-time VietTESOL speaker, she is deeply committed to accelerating language movements and fostering robust digital transformation to empower disadvantaged learners through strategic pedagogical leadership and sustainable educational innovations.
Tran Bich Hue, a senior teacher at Le Loi High School with over 25 years of ELT experience, holds a C1 Advanced English Proficiency certification. Having started her pedagogical journey in 2000, she specializes in delivering the "Global Success" curriculum and equipping students with the essential communication skills required for success in an interconnected, globalized world.
Vo Thi Cuc, also from Le Loi High School, is an educational technology practitioner who systematically evaluates interactive platforms like Quizlet and various AI tools to enhance vocabulary acquisition, accurate sentence construction, and personalize individual learning pathways for diverse proficiency levels.
As a collaborative research team from the Central Highlands, the authors are driven by a shared mission to bridge the digital divide and revitalize English education through transformative technology. By participating in the 2026 VietTESOL International Convention in Da Nang, they hold a fervent desire to engage in a vibrant professional exchange with domestic and international experts. They are eager to share their "field-tested" findings on GenAI-assisted learning—specifically regarding tools like Suno, Canva, Gemini, NotebookLM, ChatGPT, and CapCut—and aspire to absorb cutting-edge pedagogical insights to refine their teaching frameworks. Their presence reflects a heartfelt commitment to lifelong learning, ethical technology usage, and a collective ambition to transform traditional classrooms into dynamic, AI-enhanced environments that truly empower 21st-century learners to become global citizens.
| Affiliate type | Vietnamese public school |
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