MCU English Language Center’s 3rd International Conference Focuses on AI and Innovative Trends in Language Education

The Ming Chuan University English Language Center held the “3rd International Conference of the English Language Center” on May 9 at the J616 International Conference Hall on the Jihe Campus. Centered on the theme “Innovations in Language Education: Global Perspectives,” the conference brought together educators, researchers, and graduate students from Taiwan, Japan, Cambodia, Singapore, and Vietnam to exchange ideas on developments in language education and innovative teaching practices in the AI era.

The conference opened with welcoming remarks by Hui-Wen Tang, Dean of the College of General Education at Ming Chuan University. The morning keynote speech was delivered by Professor Joshua Wilwohl from American University of Phnom Penh, who explored how generative AI is reshaping English identity among non-native speakers and examined the complex role of AI tools in language learning. This was followed by three parallel presentation sessions covering topics such as gamified learning, learner autonomy, the integration of AI into bilingual elementary classrooms, and multilingual learners’ experiences in English-medium instruction (EMI) environments.

In the afternoon, Professor John Maloney from Tainan University of Technology delivered a keynote speech analyzing the disruptive changes AI is bringing to education and society from a philosophical perspective. Subsequent presentation sessions focused on critical AI literacy in EFL (English as a Foreign Language) classrooms, empirical studies on improving reading fluency and speaking skills, and the impact and implications of AI on Taiwan’s bilingual education policies.

In addition to faculty and researcher presentations, the conference also featured action research projects and an undergraduate student forum. MCU students shared their own research findings on topics including AI tools and critical thinking, differences in AI reasoning, and academic stress and mental health issues in Taiwan’s higher education environment, demonstrating students’ interdisciplinary research capabilities and independent inquiry skills.

A total of 30 papers were presented during the conference. International presenters came from institutions including Soka University of Japan, the American University of Phnom Penh, National University of Singapore, and Ho Chi Minh City University of Foreign Languages and Information Technology. Domestic participants included scholars and experts from National Taiwan Normal University, Feng Chia University, and Kang Chiao International School, among other institutions. The conference concluded successfully with a roundtable forum and closing remarks, highlighting Ming Chuan University’s continued commitment to promoting international academic exchange and innovation in language education.