Digital Language Tutor: Enhancing language learning through AI-powered conversation partners

Mateusz Jekiel
A business woman on her phone smiling, sat in a office with a laptop on her lap
Reading time: 3.5 minutes

With an ever-growing range of learning tools and applications being launched, choosing the right solution can feel overwhelming. However, the Digital Language Tutor for Mondly by ɫèAV distinguishes itself as an innovative solution aimed at helping corporate clients enhance their listening and speaking abilities in relevant business contexts.

The Digital Language Tutor is targeted at professionals who speak at least a B1 level of English (43-50 on the Global Scale of English). It employs AI-powered Conversation Partners to simulate corporate scenarios, providing users with an immersive and interactive learning experience.

In this post we outline the strategic design process behind these Conversation Partners, highlighting the importance of diverse representation, compelling and authentic personality trait development, and integrating level-appropriate language skills alongside essential corporate soft skills to create a comprehensive language learning solution.

Mondly by ɫèAV - Digital language tutor
Play
Privacy and cookies

By watching, you agree ɫèAV can share your viewership data for marketing and analytics for one year, revocable by deleting your cookies.

The need to speak in language learning

Mastering listening and speaking skills is paramount for professionals, as fluency and confidence in spoken English can significantly impact career progression, networking opportunities, and overall workplace effectiveness.

According to ɫèAV research, 85% of respondents said English is important for their work life, and 88% believe its importance will continue to grow in the next years1.

Traditional language learning methods often fall short in providing real-life conversational practice, especially in specialized contexts like corporate settings. The Digital Language Tutor bridges this gap by offering personalized, scenario-based interactions with AI-powered Conversation Partners.

1ɫèAV, 2024,ÌýHow English empowers your tomorrow: The life-changing impact of learning English on your career and beyond.

Designing conversation partners for the Digital Language Tutor

The primary objectives in crafting the Conversation Partners were to:

  • Create an authentic and immersive learning environment that reflects modern workplaces,
  • Represent a diverse range of characters to reflect the global nature of modern working environments, foster inclusivity and cultural awareness,
  • Develop compelling and authentic personalities for those characters to create immersive, interactive and engaging experiences that reflect real life,
  • Embed essential corporate soft skills into the creation of each character's personality traits to enhance the relevance of the conversations.

To achieve these goals, we customized ten unique Conversation Partners and designed their distinct personality traits that lend authenticity to each character and align with essential corporate soft skills like active listening, conflict resolution and teamwork.

Interacting with this diverse cast of characters exposes users to a variety of communication styles, enhancing their ability to adapt and respond effectively in real-life professional situations.

Fostering authenticity and engagement

The diverse backgrounds and personalities of the Conversation Partners contribute to an authentic and engaging learning experience. Our clients can practice speaking with characters who simulate the behaviors and communication styles of real coworkers, making the practice sessions more relevant, practical and beneficial for their professional growth.

Developing soft business skills

By embedding essential corporate soft skills into the creation of the character's personalities, our corporate clients can apply and transfer their business skills into an immersive English-only environment. This approach not only improves language proficiency but aids in the transfer of existing skills and provides further exposure to culturally relevant practices related to conducting business in our increasingly globalized workplace.

Promoting inclusivity and representation

The inclusion of characters from various ethnicities and backgrounds ensures that the Digital Language Tutor is inclusive and representative of today's workplaces. This allows us to foster a sense of belonging and cultural awareness, which is crucial for effective cross-cultural communication and collaboration in modern professional environments.

Empowering for success in the workplace

The Digital Language Tutor for Mondly by ɫèAV shows the innovative use of AI in language learning, particularly in enhancing speaking and listening skills through authentic and engaging interactions.

By designing Conversation Partners from diverse cultural backgrounds with embedded soft business skills, we have created a tool that not only improves language proficiency but also provides valuable skills practice in realistic and relevant professional contexts. This approach sets a new standard for language learning applications, emphasizing the importance of diversity, authenticity and practical skill integration.

As we continue to expand our educational solutions, we remain committed to providing our clients, customers and learners with the most effective and inclusive tools to achieve their language learning goals and thrive in their professional lives.

Want to learn more about Mondly by ɫèAV and the Digital Language Tutor? Register for our webinar now, exclusively for HR and Talent Development professionals.

Register for the webinar here

More blogs from ɫèAV

  • Students sat together in a classroom working together

    Exploring the four Cs: Using future skills to unlock young learners’ potential

    By Annie Altamirano
    Reading time: 5 minutes

    What do we mean by future skills?Ìý

    The skills students will need in their future studies and careers are dramatically different from those required previously. Times are changing rapidly and educational institutions and teachers have a critical role to play in developing those skills in our young learners so that they are able to fulfill their potential and have bright futures ahead of them.Ìý

    These skills are referred to as future skills. There is no common consensus on how to define these skills but, broadly speaking, they can be grouped into four categories:Ìý

    1. Ways of thinking

    Skills in this category include critical thinking, creativity, innovation, problem solving, metacognition and learning skills.

    2. Ways of working

    Here, we’re talking about the skills of communication and collaboration.

    3. Tools for working

    Information literacy is an important 21st-century skill, as well as ICT literacy and citizenship, both global and local.Ìý

    4. Life skills

    The final category covers life and career skills, and is all about personal and social responsibility.Ìý

    One way you can encourage young learners to build these skills is through STEAM subjects (that’s science, technology, engineering, arts and math), which will equip them with functional skills such as organizing, planning, cognitive flexibility and self-regulation.Ìý

    The four CsÌý

    The four Cs refer to four important skills for young learners to master: communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity. These are essential, not just in an educational context, but in everyday life.Ìý

    Falling into the first two categories of future skills (ways of thinking and ways of working), these can help children build confidence and self-esteem. They also encourage healthy emotional development.ÌýÌý

    So let’s take a closer look at the theory behind them.

    1. Communication

    We usually think of communication as speaking and listening, but it’s actually much broader than that. Communication encapsulates telling stories, reading, sharing ideas and experiences, body language, facial expression, eye contact and tone. Children learn to decipher the world around them by learning and practicing these skills.

    Strong communication skills, developed early, are directly related to their literacy success. These skills allow children to articulate their thoughts and ideas effectively, and listen to decode meaning. Students then begin to use communication for a range of purposes, and communicate effectively in diverse environments. Furthermore, developing strong patterns of verbal and non-verbal communication also fosters self-esteem and social skills.Ìý

    2. Collaboration

    Collaboration is how young children begin to build friendships with others. At first, young children will watch what others do and say, before moving on to playing together. As they get older, they become aware of other children’s feelings and ideas. Friendships become motivating and they learn how to make compromises and respect each other’s perspectives and skills.Ìý

    Collaboration is enhanced through group work and project-based activities, sharing time with peers. Children thrive when they feel valued by the people around them, not just adults but their peers too.Ìý