English learners (ELs) — often referred to as ELL or MLL students — are the fastest-growing student population in U.S. schools. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly 10% of all U.S. public school students are classified as English learners, a number that continues to rise.

For teachers, this reality presents both an opportunity and a challenge. Educators are deeply committed to equity, but scaffolding lessons, differentiating assessments, and creating extra practice for multilingual learners takes significant time.

That’s why searches for phrases like “AI for English language learners,” “AI tools for ELL students,” or “AI English speaking practice free” are increasing. Teachers want practical, effective, and reliable ways to support their students — without adding hours of prep work.

Why Teachers Are Exploring AI for English Language Learners

Teaching multilingual learners requires careful balance: maintaining grade-level rigor while ensuring access through supports like simplified texts, visuals, and vocabulary scaffolds.

Common challenges teachers report:

Adapting assignments without diluting standards.
Providing leveled practice across WIDA or state ELD proficiency levels.
Offering frequent opportunities for speaking and listening practice.
Managing translation needs for directions and key vocabulary.

AI tools offer promise because they can handle repetitive scaffolding tasks quickly, giving teachers more time to focus on actual instruction and relationship-building.

Current Free AI Tools for ELL Students

A number of free or low-cost AI-powered apps are already used by English learners outside the classroom:

Duolingo Max: uses AI to provide feedback on speaking and writing.
Elsa Speak: AI-powered pronunciation practice.
LingQ: adaptive vocabulary and reading tools.
AI speaking partners: chat-based tools where students practice conversation with an AI “tutor.”

These tools are helpful for language practice, especially speaking and vocabulary. But they are limited when it comes to classroom use:

They don’t align with academic standards (like WIDA or state ELD frameworks).
They aren’t integrated into teacher workflows (Google Classroom, formative assessments).
They can feel disconnected from students’ actual content-area learning.

In other words: they’re good supplements, but they don’t solve the teacher workload problem.

What Can AI Actually Do for ESL Classrooms?

AI has the potential to help teachers and students in specific, concrete ways:

🔹 Simplify Texts While Preserving Meaning

AI can rephrase grade-level content in accessible language, ensuring ELs engage with the same ideas as their peers.

🔹 Translate Directions and Vocabulary

Instant translations help with clarity, while paired visuals or bilingual glossaries can support comprehension.

🔹 Provide Pronunciation Feedback

Apps like Elsa Speak show how students’ pronunciation compares to fluent models — something even large ESL classes can struggle to provide.

🔹 Generate Leveled Practice Questions

AI can produce multiple versions of the same question: one at grade level, another scaffolded for ELs. This allows inclusion without lowering expectations.

🔹 Offer Low-Stakes Speaking Partners

Students can practice conversational English with AI chatbots before trying in class, reducing anxiety and building confidence.

As TESOL International notes, AI in ESL is most powerful when used as a supplementary tool for practice and access, not as a replacement for teacher expertise.

Best Practices for Using AI with English Learners

To maximize impact, AI should be integrated thoughtfully into the classroom.

Align to standards: Use AI to create supports that map to WIDA standards or your state’s ELD framework.
Keep teacher judgment central: AI should suggest scaffolds, but teachers decide what’s appropriate.
Use for formative, not summative: AI-generated practice helps students build skills, but high-stakes assessments must remain teacher-driven.
Focus on equity: Ensure that AI supplements instruction in ways that close gaps rather than widening them.

Rooted Learning’s Approach

Most AI tools for English learners are designed for individual student practice outside the classroom. Rooted Learning takes a different approach:

Teachers can toggle MLL support when generating questions.
For every standards-aligned item, Rooted creates a simplified/scaffolded version side-by-side.
Exports directly into auto-graded Google Forms, so students can practice in the same environment as their peers.
Supports differentiation without doubling teacher prep time.

This ensures multilingual learners are supported within the core classroom experience — not sidelined into separate tools.

The Bottom Line

Teachers are searching for “AI for English language learners” and related queries like “best AI English learning app free” because they need help — not more work.

Free apps like Duolingo or Elsa Speak are useful, but they don’t align to classroom standards or save teachers time. The most valuable tools are those that both differentiate practice for ELs and integrate directly into teacher workflows.

That’s the mission behind Rooted Learning: saving teachers hours while ensuring every student — including multilingual learners — has access to high-quality, standards-aligned practice.

The Rooted Report

AI for English Language Learners: Practical Tools to Support ELL and MLL Students