Future Ready AI Fluency - Leveraging AI to Foster Critical Transferable Skills in ESLEAP Contexts

Workshop Recording | March 11, 2026 Presenter: Dr. Plamen S. Kushkiev Professor of English for Academic Purposes & Adult Education Please click here to access slide deck: http://bit.ly/4bKt095 Workshop Overview As generative AI rapidly transforms education and the workforce, ESL and EAP educators must rethink how they prepare students for the future. In this professional development workshop, Dr. Plamen Kushkiev explores how AI can be used as a tool to build transferable skills, critical thinking, and learner agency in multilingual classrooms. Rather than focusing solely on academic integrity concerns, this session reframes AI as a pedagogical catalyst—supporting educators in developing students’ digital literacy, metacognitive awareness, and professional communication skills. Participants are introduced to practical strategies for integrating AI tools into ESL/EAP instruction while maintaining authentic learning and ethical engagement. Key Topics Covered • AI literacy in ESL/EAP education • Prompt engineering for language learning • Recognizing linguistic and cultural bias in AI systems • Supporting multilingual learners in professional communication • Building transferable skills for the evolving workforce Learning Objectives Participants will learn how to: • Identify gaps in curriculum and instructional practices in AI-enhanced learning environments • Reframe transferable skills within ESL/EAP contexts • Position students as active collaborators and critical users of AI tools • Design learning experiences that foster confidence, agency, and cross-cultural communication This workshop is valuable for: • ESL / EAP educators • Teacher educators and program coordinators • Adult education instructors • Curriculum designers • Professionals interested in AI-enhanced language learning and multilingual education About the Presenter Dr. Plamen S. Kushkiev (Ed.D., University of Sheffield, UK) is a Canadian college professor and researcher specializing in the ethical integration of generative AI in language education. He is the recipient of the 2024 Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Scholar Award and frequently presents at international ELT conferences on AI literacy, teacher identity, and educational innovation. Connect with AZTESOL Arizona Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages connects and supports English language educators across Arizona through professional learning, advocacy, and community engagement. 🌐 https://aztesol.org 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/company/aztesol 📘 https://www.facebook.com/aztesol2019 📸 https://www.instagram.com/arizonatesol Subscribe for more professional development sessions and conference presentations from the Arizona TESOL community. 📧 Contact: [email protected]