Overview

Google, IBM & Meta Certificates – 40% Off

One Coursera Plus subscription covers most Professional Certificates on Coursera.

Build AI literacy and create culturally grounded teaching resources with practical frameworks. AI is changing how teachers create resources, plan lessons, and support learners — but most AI training overlooks the unique context of language teaching. AI for Language Teachers: Culturally Responsive Use is designed specifically for heritage and community language teachers who want to use AI effectively, responsibly, and in ways that honor cultural knowledge. Developed by researchers and educators at Macquarie University, this course builds your AI literacy across three areas — technical, practical, and ethical. You'll learn how large language models work and why their limitations matter for heritage languages and cultural content. You'll explore the AI tool landscape, comparing general-purpose models like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini with ready-made tools built for language education. Through two practical frameworks — the Culturally Responsive AI-Use Checklist and the GenAI Prompting Framework — you'll develop a structured process for working with AI that keeps your professional judgement at the center. You'll then apply these skills to create real classroom resources, including adapted flashcards, written texts, student workbooks, and parent newsletters. Whether you are new to AI or already experimenting, this course meets you where you are. You'll leave with practical skills, usable resources, and the confidence to use AI as a tool that enhances — rather than replaces — your expertise as a language teacher.

Syllabus

AI Literacy Foundations for Heritage Language Education
- This module provides a broad introduction to AI literacy and what it means for heritage language teachers. Participants will build their understanding across three areas — technical, practical, and ethical — exploring how large language models work, how AI can support their teaching, and why the limitations of AI matter for heritage language and cultural content. The module concludes by introducing the Culturally Responsive AI-Use Checklist, a practical tool that will guide participants' use of AI throughout the course.
Using LLMs or Ready-Made AI Tools
- This module explores the AI tool landscape and helps participants make informed choices about which tools suit their teaching context. Participants will examine the differences between general purpose large language models (LLMs) and ready-made AI tools, experiment with tools commonly used in language education, and begin applying the Culturally Responsive AI-Use Checklist to evaluate what they find.
Build Your AI Prompting Skills
- This module introduces the AI Prompting Framework — a six-step process for working with AI effectively, responsibly, and with professional confidence. Participants will work through each step in detail, from preparing a well-contextualised first input to evaluating, documenting, and sharing their outputs, all while keeping the Culturally Responsive AI-Use Checklist in mind.
Multilingual Resource Creation
- This module focuses on applying prompting skills to create meaningful resources for the heritage language classroom. Participants will use AI to develop curriculum-aligned lesson, unit plans, and assessments that value both language skills and cultural knowledge, and culturally grounded resources to support lessons — evaluating each output against their professional judgement and the Culturally Responsive AI-Use Checklist.