In mid-February, methodological and linguistic experts from JSC IIT Candidate in Pedagogy, Associate professor of the Department of Languages, D.A. Aliyeva; Candidate in Philology, Associate professor of the Department of Languages, O.V. Bublikova; and MA in TESOL, Senior lecturer of the Department of Languages, Z.M. Ainabayeva conducted a series of offline training sessions on the topic "The potential of digital tools, artificial intelligence, and neural networks in mixed-level language learning groups." The main objective of the training was to develop practical skills in using AI and modern digital technologies in mixed-level classrooms, particularly in blended learning environments.

The training sessions took place at the following schools: February 15 – School-Lyceum No. 80 named after Akseleu Seidimbek, Shymkent; February 22 – Gymnasium School No. 62, Astana; February 24 – International Information Technology University, Almaty. The training followed an engaging format, combining theoretical and practical components over a 180-minute session. Participants were introduced to key digital solutions and had the opportunity to apply them in practice, ensuring a hands-on learning experience.

Modern pedagogy faces new challenges: How can education be adapted to different student proficiency levels, increase engagement, and simplify teachers' work? The answer lies in leveraging digital technologies, which enable a personalized approach to learning. This topic was the focus of a series of February training sessions, where linguistic and methodological experts outlined the key training stages, emphasizing the Akelius platform, the Personal Coach and Chat GPT functions, the Forking-Path Narrative method, and the Animaker platform. The experts also shared their experience and provided teachers with practical guidance on integrating these new tools into the educational process.

The first stage of the training featured a masterclass by Zhulfiya Makhsutovna Ainabayeva, dedicated to the functional capabilities of the Personal Coach feature in the Akelius app. One of the key topics was "Integrating Personal Coach and Chat GPT: Strategies for everyday teaching."

The Akelius app offers a unique Personal Coach feature, designed as a personalized assistant for learners striving to enhance their speaking skills. The primary goal of this function is to help students develop oral communication through interactive exercises and personalized recommendations.

Using machine learning algorithms, Personal Coach analyzes a student's progress and tailors exercises to their current needs and proficiency level.

During the session, Zhulfiya Makhsutovna emphasized the importance of employing multiple methods in digital learning to effectively develop speaking skills, including:

• Adaptive learning technology: AI-driven systems that adjust to individual student needs, providing continuous support and progress tracking.
• Speech training and pronunciation practice: Speech recognition technology that offers real-time feedback on pronunciation and intonation.
• Interactive video lessons: Opportunities for students to engage in dialogues and receive AI-generated feedback.
• Gamification of the learning process: Implementing game-like elements to keep students motivated and engaged in learning.

The language expert also highlighted key aspects of the training, including:

• Demonstrating the capabilities of Personal Coach for personalized learning.
• Analyzing task examples aimed at developing speaking skills.
• Providing a step-by-step guide for integrating artificial intelligence into the teaching process.

The next stage of the training focused on the topic "Forking-path narrative: how to enhance texts and exercises in the akelius app? theoretical aspects," presented by Oksana Vasilyevna Bublikova. According to Oksana Bublikova, "The integration of the Akelius app into Russian language lessons serves as a great example. For instance, Lesson 90, Level B2, Profession: Journalism. In this lesson, Akelius helps students develop journalistic skills using interactive materials that teach them to formulate thoughts, work with texts, and enhance critical thinking through branching narratives. The app offers various tasks that immerse students in topics relevant to the journalism profession, allowing them to engage with texts of different genres. Another example comes from U.A. Zhanpeis' textbook for 7th grade, section "HOBBIES," exercise 321, page 169. In this case, Akelius is used to work with texts about hobbies, helping students practice lexical and grammatical structures related to personal interests. The app facilitates real-life communication skills through interactive exercises that integrate new vocabulary and grammar into meaningful contexts." During her practical session with teachers, Oksana Vasilyevna demonstrated how to use the Akelius app, Chat GPT, and Kandinsky Video, emphasizing key aspects such as: the theory and practice of creating interactive texts with branching narratives, methods for developing educational materials with multiple-choice scenarios, which make lessons more diverse, engaging, and dynamic for students. Oksana Vasilyevna highlighted that integrating digital tools into traditional lessons is a necessity of our time. Through the training, teachers learned how to effectively use digital tools like Akelius, Chat GPT, and Kandinsky Video in traditional education, enabling them to incorporate cutting-edge technologies into everyday teaching. In the training process, teachers collaborated to create assignments that combine different digital tools. For example: using Akelius for language exercises, leveraging Chat GPT for question generation and discussion prompts, implementing Kandinsky Video for visual materials. This multimodal approach enhances students' engagement with the material and fosters critical thinking, making the learning experience more interactive and impactful.

The final stage of the training focused on the use of the Animaker application in education: from entertainment to a learning tool; theoretical justification and practical recommendations, presented by Dinara Asylkhanovna Aliyeva. As the expert explained:
"Animaker is an online platform for creating animated videos that is gradually becoming an effective tool in the educational process. Using this platform not only engages students but also integrates multimedia technologies for deeper language learning and other disciplines." Dinara Asylkhanovna emphasized that the Akelius platform, which combines educational technology with interactive exercises, when used alongside Animaker, provides unique opportunities for active language acquisition. In this context, creating animated videos becomes a powerful tool that helps students develop writing and speaking skills, as well as practice listening comprehension.

Additionally, the language expert highlighted that animation creation enhances creative thinking and allows students to express their ideas through visual and audiovisual elements. By working with Animaker, students gain hands-on experience with modern multimedia technologies, improving their digital competencies. When creating animations, students actively collaborate, discuss ideas, and solve problems, which helps improve their communication skills. Moreover, the language expert provided practical recommendations on using Animaker for educational purposes, considering that teachers can leverage the platform to develop lessons, demonstrations, and assignments, making the learning process more interactive and engaging. Using Animaker for animation creation allows students not only to work with texts and dialogues but also to actively practice pronunciation, listening skills, and grammar. Teachers must be prepared to integrate new technologies, and it is crucial that they receive adequate training and resources to effectively implement multimedia tools in the educational process.

Additionally, a hidden assessment was conducted to evaluate children’s engagement in language learning using Akelius LinguaCollage. The goal was to determine the significance of Russian and English in children's communication and assess their ability to apply acquired knowledge in practice.The assessment took place in Shymkent, with participants including: 5th-grade students from Secondary School No. 122, 5th and 6th-grade students from Gymnasium School No. 50 named after A. Baitursynov, 4th-grade students from Secondary School No. 39, 3rd-grade students from Secondary School No. 39. As well as in Astana, with: 4th-grade students from Gymnasium School No. 75, 7th-grade students from Gymnasium School No. 75.

A game-based approach was used through collage creation, allowing for a subtle assessment of students' perception of language tools and their level of engagement. Students were divided into two subgroups in each class to encourage teamwork and discussion, which helped reveal their collective understanding of Akelius' role in education. The results showed that active and regular use of Akelius in lessons (as observed in Secondary School No. 39) contributed to higher student engagement and a stronger association of the app with language learning. Conversely, the lack of mentions of Akelius in other schools indicated the need for greater integration of digital tools into the educational process. It is recommended to conduct additional training sessions for teachers to promote more active use of Akelius and other digital learning resources. Thus, the LinguaCollage assessment revealed significant differences in the perception and usage of Akelius, demonstrating its potential when properly integrated into the educational process.

The training is designed to equip educators with modern technologies to enhance the effectiveness and interactivity of lessons, particularly in mixed-level groups. Participants will gain practical knowledge to integrate digital tools into their daily teaching practice. Upon completing the training, participants will not only master contemporary technologies but also receive clear implementation strategies for incorporating them into their teaching. Interactivity, personalization, and a multimedia approach represent the future of education, which begins today. These training sessions, led by language and methodology experts, serve as a crucial step toward the digital transformation of education, helping teachers adapt to evolving realities and make the learning process more effective and engaging. During the training, participants explored key pedagogical concepts, familiarized themselves with new tools, and developed practical skills for integrating technology into the educational process.