Icy Lee
AI Integration in L2 Writing Education: An Expertise Framework
Despite the growing body of research on the use of Generative AI (GenAI) in language education, uncertainty persists among language teachers about how best to harness this technology to empower students to take ownership of and maximize their learning. This challenge is further compounded by language teachers’ lack of confidence and competence in using GenAI, as well as the absence of established guidelines to support its effective implementation.
Taking the broader challenge of AI integration as a point of departure, this presentation proposes that L2 writing teacher education can benefit from an expertise framework that prioritizes adaptive expertise—defined as the capacity to apply knowledge flexibly and innovatively in response to a complex and evolving educational landscape. Supported by adaptive expertise, L2 writing teachers do not merely apply existing knowledge; they continually engage in professional learning and development to meet the dynamic demands of AI integration. Building on this foundation, I present a quadruple expertise framework comprising four key dimensions: visionary, professional, collaborative, and emotional expertise. With visionary expertise as the cornerstone, purposeful, meaningful, and responsible use forms the foundation for effective AI integration in L2 writing classrooms. Translating this into practice, teachers enact professional expertise by applying learner-centred principles—such as assessment as learning, metacognition, agentic engagement, and self-regulated learning—when designing and guiding AI use. Collaborative expertise involves teachers working not only with AI tools, but also with students to integrate AI in ways that are pedagogically productive and ethically sound. Finally, emotional expertise supports teachers in navigating the affective and ethical tensions that accompany AI integration, allowing them to model emotional resilience and foster positive engagement with AI-supported writing.
In this presentation, I unpack each dimension of the quadruple expertise framework and illustrate its application to AI use in L2 writing education, supported by practical examples.
Icy Lee is Professor of Education (TESOL & Language Education) at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Her research focuses on second language writing and second language teacher education. Her work has appeared in leading international journals, including Applied Linguistics, Assessing Writing, Journal of Second Language Writing (JSLW), Language Teaching, Language Teaching Research, System, and TESOL Quarterly. She previously served as co-editor of JSLW and currently holds editorial roles as Principal Associate Editor of The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, and co-editor of both the International Journal of Christianity & English Language Teaching and the Disciplinary Dialogues section of JSLW.
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