A safe workflow is draft, inspect, adapt, and teach. Use a de-identified draft only, do not paste pupil personal data into a tool, and do not present generated text as a source or as your own assessment.
1. ChatGPT for first drafts
Ask for a lesson outline, vocabulary set, dialogue, or differentiated practice. Add learner level, goal, time, and likely errors. Check every example, then rewrite it for the student and your teaching style.
2. Canva for visual materials
Use templates or generative design for slides, picture prompts, flashcards, and worksheets. Keep the page readable and check that images, examples, and licenses fit the lesson. Canva can support preparation; it does not establish an Outschool rate, enrolment, or teacher income.
3. Grammarly for editing checks
Use it to spot grammar, clarity and tone questions in a draft. Treat suggestions as points to discuss with the learner. A learner’s intended meaning and dialect context still need a teacher’s judgement.
4. Quizlet for vocabulary review
Create a small set from the lesson and ask the learner to make example sentences. Remove confusing definitions and check pronunciation before sharing the set.
5. ELSA Speak for pronunciation practice
Use an app score as one signal in pronunciation work. Listen to the learner yourself, model the target sound and explain intelligibility and variation. Do not treat an app score as a complete assessment.
6. Perplexity or another cited search tool for topic preparation
For a current-events conversation, use cited results to find possible reading and discussion prompts. Open the sources, check dates and bias, and give learners the source links. Generated summaries can still be wrong.
7. Loom for optional video feedback
A short screen recording can make writing or speaking feedback easier to follow. Get learner consent, remove private information, and use a secure sharing setting. Typed feedback may be better for a sensitive correction.
8. Anki for spaced review
Build a small deck for a learner who wants regular retrieval practice. Agree on a manageable review routine and remove cards that test translation without a useful context.
9. OBS Studio for recording lessons or demonstrations
OBS can record a demo or teaching sample. Get consent from every participant, avoid recording minors without the required permission, and check the platform’s recording policy before publishing anything.
A simple classroom workflow
- Define the learner goal and the evidence of progress.
- Use one tool to draft a small part of the lesson.
- Fact-check language, examples, and sources.
- Adapt the activity to the learner and remove unnecessary data.
- Teach, observe and revise from the learner’s response.
What to avoid
- Claims that an AI tool guarantees a pay rate, enrolment, conversion, or client result.
- Uploads of learner names, private writing, recordings or platform messages without consent or a clear data policy.
- Using generated explanations without checking grammar, cultural context, and level.
- Buying several overlapping subscriptions before testing one workflow.
Next steps
Pick one repetitive task from this week’s lessons, test one tool on a de-identified draft, and keep the final teaching decision yours. For wider career and job choices, use the English and maths jobs board and the teaching practice review.