Reimagining Language Teaching: A Glimpse into the Future at PNU

I recently had the energizing opportunity to sit as a panelist at Philippine Normal University for their technology fair, BEE-INNOVATIVE: Exploring Innovative Teaching and Learning through Language and Technology. And wow—what an inspiring glimpse into the future of language education.

These were second-year pre-service teachers, but they were already thinking and building like instructional designers.

They showcased projects built on industry-level tools—Storyline, Genially, Lumi—and gamified language lessons in ways that honestly surprised me. These weren’t just ideas. They were working products designed to simplify complex language concepts into fun, meaningful, and engaging experiences for learners.

My favorite?

A Storyline-based game set in a Filipino town.
The learner plays as a young child walking home from school, stopping along the way to interact with familiar barangay characters who teach them about rhymes, phonemes, and other language skills.

Culturally grounded. Visually rich. Pedagogically sound.
Now that’s gamification.

What made it more impressive?

They weren’t stopping at interactivity. These student-teachers were:

• Using AI to generate consistent characters and image sets

• Experimenting with Augmented Reality (AR) to bring stories to life

• Packaging their outputs like real-world digital learning experiences

It was far beyond traditional teaching tools.
This was instructional design.
And it was being done by students who hadn’t even entered the classroom yet.

But Here’s What Hit Me:

As exciting and refreshing as these innovations were, I couldn’t ignore the reality:
Our current system—especially in public schools—might not be ready for this.

They’re designing lessons that:

• Require access to devices and stable internet

• Take significant time to develop and test

• Rely on manageable class sizes and consistent support for teachers

And in many classrooms today?
Those conditions still feel far from reach. Teachers are already stretched thin. Access is inconsistent. Preparation time is a luxury.

But you know what?

They’re not designing for what is.
They’re designing for what could be.
And that mindset alone makes all the difference.

These future educators are digital natives. They understand the power of play, storytelling, and media. They start with what’s fun, and connect that to how students learn best.