Prof. Kathleen AHRENS, Department of English and Communication

Transforming Public Speaking: Harnessing GenAI for Engaging Classroom Experiences. 3rd Creative English Teaching Forum “AI + Teaching & Learning”. The MPU-Bell Centre, Macao Polytechnic University, Macao, China, 31 October 2025.

Abstract
This talk aims to share how generative AI can be leveraged in teaching to enhance students’ engagement, confidence, and effectiveness in public speaking scenarios. Generative AI models learn patterns from human-created data and use these patterns to produce new content such as text, images, music, audio, and videos. Drawing on our experience integrating AI-powered tools such as Yoodli, ChatGPT, and Gamma into a master’s-level course at a public university in Hong Kong, we demonstrate how these technologies supported pre-service and in-service primary and secondary teachers in developing stronger public speaking skills. The session highlights practical strategies, classroom applications, and observed benefits, showing how AI tools can help nurture a new generation of confident and compelling communicators.