Paris in Outer Philly: AI enhances French language instruction in south Jersey suburb

New Jersey schools are embracing AI technology in classrooms through state-funded initiatives, transforming how teachers deliver instruction and students learn. At Gateway Regional High School in Deptford, New Jersey, students practice language skills with AI chatbots while teachers use the technology to personalize learning and reduce administrative workload. This educational evolution represents a significant shift in how technology is being integrated into public education, with the state government actively encouraging AI adoption through targeted grants.

The big picture: New Jersey’s Department of Education is positioning the state at the forefront of AI integration in public schools through a $1.5 million grant program distributed to ten school districts.

• Gateway Regional High School and nine other districts including Burlington City, Eastern Regional, Delsea Regional, and Woodstown-Pilesgrove each received $75,000 to implement AI technologies.
• State Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer has declared AI “the forefront of the future of education,” signaling strong governmental support for technological innovation in classrooms.

How it works: In Gateway’s French class, students rotate through learning stations where AI chatbots facilitate language practice through natural conversation.

• Students like freshman Spencer Barrett use headsets connected to Chromebooks to engage with the chatbot, answering programmed questions about everyday scenarios like grocery shopping.
• The technology allows students to practice conversational skills in a low-pressure environment while receiving immediate feedback.

Why this matters: AI tools are transforming teaching methodologies by automating routine tasks and allowing educators to focus on personalized instruction.

• French teacher Kim Karwoski, a 15-year teaching veteran, reports that AI has streamlined her workload and enabled her to provide more targeted support to students needing extra help.
• Karwoski believes the technology will strengthen the teaching profession rather than replace human educators, describing it as “an exciting time” for education.

The broader context: New Jersey’s initiative represents part of a national conversation about appropriate integration of AI in education as schools navigate potential benefits and concerns.

• The grant program demonstrates how state governments are taking active roles in guiding AI adoption rather than leaving districts to navigate these technological changes independently.
• The focus on using AI as a supplemental tool rather than a replacement for teachers illustrates the evolving understanding of how technology can enhance rather than supplant human instruction.