Application of artificial intelligence in teaching a foreign language

Objective of the research is studying application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in foreign language teaching. The article lightens mixed feelings of university teachers towards the AI, advantages of its application in education technologies, as well as its accessibility and prevalence. The author provides examples of developing students’ skills in lexis and grammar through simulation of conversations, working on vocabulary and grammar structures with the help of the programmes with in-built AI. The methodological basis of the research the author applied in the article are observation, analysis and synthesis, description and comparison, and method of systematic approach. The author describes personal experience of exploiting exercises created with the help of AI which are used in the process of teaching foreign (English) language in the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation. Results of the study. The role of foreign languages teachers is undergoing changes, it is transforming from a transferor of knowledge to a facilitator, a tutor, and in future – a designer of educational paths. Digital competence is considered one of the main skills that university teachers have to possess.   Research рerspectives are undoubtedly related to further implementation of AI technologies into education process, application of digital tools and online resources, implementation of programmes with in-built AI into academic process.