THE ROLE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AS A CO-TEACHER IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE CLASSES: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR SCHOOL TEACHERS

Abstract

This article examines the emerging role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a co-teacher in school English language classes. It analyzes the significant opportunities AI offers, including personalized learning pathways, real-time automated feedback, adaptive material generation, and substantial reduction in teachers’ administrative workload. At the same time, the paper addresses critical challenges such as the urgent need for teacher professional development, concerns over data privacy and algorithmic bias, infrastructure limitations, risks of over-reliance on technology that may diminish human interaction, and potential impacts on students’ critical thinking and creativity. Drawing on recent international research as well as studies from Uzbekistan and similar EFL contexts, the article provides practical recommendations for school teachers to integrate AI tools ethically and effectively while maintaining the central human element of language teaching. The core argument is that AI should serve as a supportive co-teacher that complements, rather than replaces, the pedagogical expertise and emotional intelligence of human educators.