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Introduction
Nicky Hockly’s 30 Essentials for Using Artificial Intelligence in English Language Teaching. Cambridge University Press. (ELT), published by Cambridge University Press in 2024, is a timely and insightful addition to the Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers series. Authored by Nicky Hockly, a seasoned educator and technology consultant with over three decades of experience, the book draws on her journey with Artificial Intelligence (AI), from her 1980s encounters as a student living with AI researchers to her pioneering role in developing online ELT materials in the 1990s. Hockly’s stated aim is to demystify AI, providing educators with practical strategies to integrate it into language teaching while critically addressing its ethical and societal implications. Structured into four sections—A: Setting the Scene, B: AI in Language Teaching and Learning, C: The Big Questions, and D: Self-Development and AI—the book comprises 30 concise “essentials” or chapters, each offering a focused exploration of AI’s role in ELT. This review summarizes the book’s content, evaluates its contributions to the field, and critiques its strengths and limitations. As AI increasingly reshapes educational landscapes, Hockly’s work serves as an essential guide for ELT educators navigating this transformative technology.