Interview to Russell Stannard, Award-Winning Educational Technologist

How is AI reshaping language education and what does this mean for teachers and learners? We have had the pleasure of having a conversation with Russell Stannard, an international speaker, teacher trainer and lecturer, who was our special guest last May at our European Trinity Day, our online seminar to explore the impact of Artificial Intelligence on language learning and classroom practice.

Russell Stannard will also present The Trinity Ecosystem: Learning, Assessment and Teacher Development, our upcoming webinar series starting on September 24th.

Tell us something about your background and professional experience.

I’ve been working in language teaching and teacher training for many years, mainly focusing on how technology can support what we do in the classroom. I’ve worked at universities such as Warwick and Westminster, training both teachers and students, and I’m probably best known for my website, Teacher Training Videos, where I create short, practical tutorials to help teachers use technology more confidently. What really drives my work is helping teachers save time, reduce stress, and feel more in control of digital tools.

You can find more information here: https://www.russellstannard.com/russell-stannard

Could you summarise the main points you focused on during the European Trinity Day webinar last May?

We focused on tools that are easy to use and don’t take much time to learn or to create materials, and we’ll explore how these tools can support learning effectively.

There are a few key areas we explored:

• First, how we can use technology and AI to create content and generate ideas quickly—whether that’s materials, activities, or lesson starters;
• Second, the importance of using AI based on sound pedagogy. It’s not about using AI for its own sake, but about asking: does this actually improve learning?
• Third, how we can use these tools to increase engagement in the classroom, making lessons more interactive, personalised, and motivating for learners.

In that case, just like in the next Autumn webinars, I kept things very practical, sharing simple strategies and examples that you can take away and use straight away.

What is fundamental to know for today's teachers about the use of AI in education?

I think the key message I’d like to share about AI is that simple is best. There’s a lot of noise around AI at the moment, and it can feel like you need to spend hours learning complex tools—but actually, you don’t. The most effective use of AI is often quick, simple, and practical.

For example, you can use it to:

• generate ideas for activities;
• create or adapt materials;
• support feedback;

all in a matter of minutes, not hours.

So it’s not about adding more work to your day. In fact, it should do the opposite - it should save you time and reduce workload. The important thing is to use AI in a way that fits naturally into what you already do as a teacher. Keep it simple, keep it purposeful, and always focus on what will make the biggest difference to your learners.

Register now