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Opening AI for Language Learning · March 17 · 40 min

What the LLM?

What is a large language model (LLM), actually? How do these systems work? Why can they feel like human conversation partners, and why is that perception misleading? In this inaugural episode of Opening AI for Language Learning (OAILL), Mat and Phil open the podcast by answering these questions and then discussing key implications for language teaching and learning. The OAILL podcast was inspired by their collaboration on the 2025 paper "AI and the Future of Language Teaching: Motivating Sustained Integrated Professional Development." International Journal of Computer-Assisted Language Learning and Teaching (IJCALLT), 15(1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.4018/IJCALLT.378304 In this episode: Phil Hubbard: https://web.stanford.edu/~efs/phil/ Mat Schulze: https://PantaRhei.press/mat Emily Bender: https://faculty.washington.edu/ebender/ Open-access position paper on Sustained Integrated Professional Development for GenAI (GenAI-SIPD): https://www.igi-global.com/gateway/article/378304

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What is a large language model (LLM), actually? How do these systems work? Why can they feel like human conversation partners, and why is that perception misleading? In this inaugural episode of Opening AI for Language Learning (OAILL), Mat and Phil open the podcast by answering these questions and then discussing key implications for language teaching and learning.

The OAILL podcast was inspired by their collaboration on the 2025 paper "AI and the Future of Language Teaching: Motivating Sustained Integrated Professional Development." International Journal of Computer-Assisted Language Learning and Teaching (IJCALLT), 15(1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.4018/IJCALLT.378304

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