Bridging the language gap with AI tools every teacher can use

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“I don’t think he understands anything I say in class,” Ms. Pierce, a high school science teacher, admitted to me recently. She was talking about her new Ukrainian student, who had just arrived and was placed in a mainstream class with little English support. Like many content teachers, Ms. Pierce is experienced, dedicated, and compassionate, but not trained in ESL instruction. She wanted to help, but didn’t know where to begin.

I suggested starting with something simple yet powerful: Use AI tools to generate clear, labelled images to introduce key vocabulary. According to the SIOP Model (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol), building background and explicitly teaching vocabulary are essential steps in making content comprehensible for English Learners. Visuals for terms like evaporation, cell wall, or friction give students a foundation before they encounter these words in complex reading or classroom discussions. For newcomers, especially, a single image can unlock an entire lesson.

But vocabulary is only part of the challenge. Many English Learners, especially those new to a country or school system, also lack background knowledge. When we assume students understand what a “revolution,” “ecosystem,” or “photosynthesis” means, we’re often skipping over cultural and conceptual gaps. That’s where AI-generated videoscan be transformative.

Using platforms like Pictory, Fliki, or KreadoAI, teachers can paste a short, student-friendly script into the platform and instantly generate a video. These often include narration, images, captions, and sometimes even avatars. A science teacher can create a 90-second explanation of the water cycle; a history teacher can summarize the causes of the American Revolution. English Learners benefit from the layered input–hearing narration, reading subtitles, and seeing key concepts illustrated–all at once.

To reinforce language development, especially in writing, content teachers can take this further by using AI to support sentence structure and cohesion. One effective combination is Quill.org, ChatGPT and AIR Language,an AI-powered platform designed specifically for English Language Learners. Developed by a passionate educator in Texas, a place I still consider my second home, AIR Language offers levelled, adaptive practice in grammar, vocabulary, and speaking. Teachers can assign lessons or have students engage with guided AI prompts that build academic vocabulary, sentence structure, and confidence in real time.

Quill offers structured grammar and writing practice, including focused exercises on cause-and-effect transitions like “because,” “so,” “therefore,” and “as a result.” Students receive immediate feedback and revision opportunities, making it a low-stress environment for mastering academic language.

Pairing this with a generative tool like ChatGPT helps students apply those skills in context. Teachers can prompt students to write short paragraphs explaining scientific processes or historical events, then use ChatGPT to check their use of transitions. For those new to AI, here are two simple prompts you can copy and try:

• “Here’s a paragraph about the water cycle. Give feedback on the use of transition words showing cause and effect. Suggest better alternatives if needed.”
• “Rewrite this student’s paragraph using clearer cause-and-effect transitions like ‘because,’ ‘therefore,’ or ‘as a result.’”

AI can also play a valuable role in differentiating instruction and assessing English Learners in real time. Tools like MagicSchool AI or ChatGPT can help teachers generate multiple versions of the same reading passage or quiz, adjusting the language complexity to match students’ English proficiency levels. A biology teacher, for example, could create three versions of a summary about photosynthesis: one for newcomers with simple sentence frames, one for intermediate learners using visuals and transition words, and one for advanced students using more academic language. For quick assessments, teachers can use tools like Formative or Quizizz AIto design exit tickets or comprehension checks that adapt questions for ELLs while still assessing the same core concept. These differentiated strategies align with the SIOP model and help ensure that all students can access and demonstrate learning, even if their English skills are still developing.

These tools aren’t a replacement for good teaching, but they offer powerful scaffolds. Teachers can differentiate, reinforce, and expand instruction, without needing to become language specialists. While powerful, AI tools should always be used thoughtfully, and teachers should review outputs for accuracy and appropriateness.

For students like Ms. Pierce’s Ukrainian learner, these supports could mean the difference between silent confusion and real understanding. AI is not just changing education, it’s helping to level the playing field. With the right tools and a bit of guidance, every teacher can become a language teacher.

Ready to try? Start with just one tool this week and see the difference.

If you’re new to AI image generation and want a simple step-by-step guide, consider completing the free MagicSchool Image Generator Certification Course. It walks educators through crafting prompts, generating educational visuals, and even customizing them using Adobe Express.

Prefer to watch instead? This 2-minute video walkthrough shows how to use MagicSchool’s Image Generator in real time, perfect for getting started quickly.