By Svetlana Maksimović
What happens when a robot enters an English classroom?
For Svetlana Maksimović, the more interesting question is not what the robot can do, but what it can help a learner feel confident enough to do.
Representing ELTA Serbia at the 16th International AzETA Conference in Baku, she presented her work on social robots, artificial intelligence, and inclusive English language teaching, bringing together her research with Musio and a practical exploration of the humanoid robot NAO.
Her work starts from a very familiar classroom reality. Students need opportunities to speak, yet many hesitate because they are afraid of making mistakes or being judged. A social robot can offer an additional space for practice, one where repetition is patient, the pressure is lower, and a learner can build confidence before speaking to classmates or the teacher.
Her research with students aged 12 to 15 produced some striking responses. 87% found robots motivating, 73% reported curiosity and excitement, and 65% believed that interacting with a robot could improve their communication skills.
That does not mean the teacher is about to be replaced by a very polite machine with excellent battery life. Quite the opposite.
Svetlana argues that robots such as Musio and NAO should be seen as additional tools, not substitutes for human interaction. Technology can provide repetition, interaction, and new ways to participate, but the teacher remains the person who understands the learner, the classroom relationships, the curriculum, and the emotional dynamics of learning.
Her presentation also explored the potential of social robots in inclusive education. For quieter learners, students who lack confidence, or children who may benefit from more predictable and structured communication, technology can offer another pathway into participation. The goal is not to find one technological solution for everyone, but to create more opportunities for different learners to engage.
And perhaps that is the most important takeaway from Baku.
The future of AI and robotics in English language teaching should not be about replacing human connection with machines. It should be about using technology to create more communication, more confidence, more inclusion, and ultimately, more human connection.
Read her full reflection from the 16th International AzETA Conference and discover what Musio, NAO, and the human side of teaching might have in common.
