Abstract
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in education has increased considerably in recent years, and so has its adoption in language education. This article discusses how AI can serve as a co-teacher in a human-AI co-teaching model, where human teachers and AI collaborate to provide effective instruction that supports student learning. The article employs a qualitative literature review to synthesize existing scholarship on AI's role as a co-teacher in educational contexts. Drawing on secondary sources, it argues that the human-AI co-teaching model is the way forward for language education amid the increasing adoption of AI in education. The article provides definitions of AI as a co-teacher, discusses the changing roles and responsibilities of human teachers, and shows how AI can be utilized in the human-AI co-teaching model. In addition, the article discusses the affordances and teacher professional development needed to ensure the effectiveness of adopting AI as co-teachers. Limitations of this model and suggestions for future research are also discussed to provide directions for curriculum development, policy support, and further studies on this important and emerging area of research.
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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Article Type: Review Article
Journal of Digital Educational Technology, Volume 6, Issue 2, October 2026, Article No: ep2614
https://doi.org/10.29333/jdet/18854
Publication date: 25 Jun 2026
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Article Downloads: 103
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How to cite this article
APA
Pang, S., Vutha, C., & Heng, K. (2026). AI as a co-teacher in language education: A review of roles, application, and affordances. Journal of Digital Educational Technology, 6(2), ep2614. https://doi.org/10.29333/jdet/18854
Vancouver
Pang S, Vutha C, Heng K. AI as a co-teacher in language education: A review of roles, application, and affordances. Journal of Digital Educational Technology. 2026;6(2):ep2614. https://doi.org/10.29333/jdet/18854
AMA
Pang S, Vutha C, Heng K. AI as a co-teacher in language education: A review of roles, application, and affordances. Journal of Digital Educational Technology. 2026;6(2), ep2614. https://doi.org/10.29333/jdet/18854
Chicago
Pang, Samarnh, Cedy Vutha, and Kimkong Heng. "AI as a co-teacher in language education: A review of roles, application, and affordances". Journal of Digital Educational Technology 2026 6 no. 2 (2026): ep2614. https://doi.org/10.29333/jdet/18854
Harvard
Pang, S., Vutha, C., and Heng, K. (2026). AI as a co-teacher in language education: A review of roles, application, and affordances. Journal of Digital Educational Technology, 6(2), ep2614. https://doi.org/10.29333/jdet/18854
MLA
Pang, Samarnh et al. "AI as a co-teacher in language education: A review of roles, application, and affordances". Journal of Digital Educational Technology, vol. 6, no. 2, 2026, ep2614. https://doi.org/10.29333/jdet/18854
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