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Knowledge and use of academic vocabulary is important for learners preparing for or participating in English medium university education. Academic vocabulary knowledge contributes to academic success. Corpus-based research has shed light on the nature of written and spoken academic lexis across and within subjects which is useful for identifying vocabulary worth focusing on in EAP classrooms, textbooks, materials and websites such as the EAP Foundation. The focus of this talk is issues related to acquiring academic vocabulary, using examples from research in secondary and tertiary contexts in English as a foreign and second language countries. The talk begins with a model of vocabulary growth from Nation and Coxhead (2021), before turning to the following issues: (1) challenges EAP learners can face when learning and using academic vocabulary; (2) reports of low levels of vocabulary of EAP learners in a range of contexts; (3) the need for principled approaches and understanding to support vocabulary acquisition and use in EAP. The final part of the talk includes recommendations for practice based on the three issues as well as some suggestions for future research. There will be time for questions.

In recent years, AI technology has advanced significantly, leading to its increasing integration into various fields, including second language (L2) education. These developments offer exciting opportunities for language teachers to enhance their teaching methods and student engagement. Given such developments, this presentation aims to provide an accessible introduction to a range of AI technologies relevant to L2 education, with a focus on the latest research findings. It will explore several tools, starting with large language model (LLM)-based chatbots as speaking practice partners, and ChatGPT as automated writing evaluation tools. Additionally, the presentation will cover how ChatGPT can be used to build test items, offering practical insights for L2 educators. By reviewing previous studies on these AI applications in L2 education, it will provide a clear overview of their benefits and limitations.