Recently, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has shown itself to be a useful and breakthrough tool for many things, including language learning. Educators, learners and businesses are constantly seeking effective methods to impart language skills and AI-powered solutions have proved to be invaluable assets in this regard.
The impact of AI on language learning is multifaceted, presenting opportunities as well as challenges for educators, learners and corporate entities. According to a , many institutions say that AI will be instrumental to improving their competitiveness, funding, and innovation.
It is a widely discussed topic nowadays. While it has its advantages, there are also some drawbacks to consider.
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AI-powered language learning platforms analyze user's strengths, weaknesses, learning pace, and preferences to offer a personalized learning path. This approach enhances engagement and optimizes learning outcomes and goals.
These types of applications and programs enable language learners to access lessons, exercises, and tutoring from anywhere, at any time, breaking down barriers and offering flexibility to learners worldwide. It can aid and support students with additional needs, making learning a lot less of an obstacle. For example, condensing/summarising content or tasks in an understandable way or suggesting word alternatives, just to name a few.
It can provide learners with instantaneous feedback on their pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary usage. This feedback allows learners to identify their mistakes and rectify them promptly, accelerating the learning process. AI can use advanced voice recognition technology to detect the learner's pronunciation and accent to provide accurate feedback.
With real-time analysis, algorithms can identify errors and suggest corrections right away and feedback is personalized. Based on the level of proficiency, algorithms can provide suggestions that are easy to understand and implement. This means more time to do other things, without worrying about providing or waiting for feedback.
AI tools are used to supplement traditional teaching methods. They help teachers create dynamic lesson plans, track student progress and identify areas that require additional attention, enhancing overall teaching effectiveness. This makes teaching more effective and enjoyable for both teachers and students. Plus, it takes some of the pressure off teachers by lightening their workload.
AI has a significant limitation in language learning as it lacks the ability to provide authentic human interaction. Language acquisition is a complex process that involves cultural nuances and subtle communication cues that AI may not be able to fully comprehend. As a result, the immersive experience may be limited.
We have not yet reached a level where AI is proficient in natural spoken conversation, so its ability to assist in certain language contexts is currently limited. It will no doubt develop over time, but currently, it's not at a developed enough level. There are upcoming experimental conversational tools like , developed by Google, which are great examples of AI-powered conversation simulators.
Excessive reliance on AI-based tools might hinder the development of self-reliance and critical thinking skills in learners. Relying solely on technology and the ability to adapt to diverse real-world linguistic scenarios.Teachers are also more likely to face the challenge of students submitting AI-generated assignments.
So tools and systems will have to be implemented to check and identify any unoriginal AI-generated content. But this will be a constant process; as AI evolves and improves, so will plagiarism systems; it will likely be a constant race to keep up.Commonly used like are now incorporating checks for AI-generated content; the company reported that reviewed had been flagged as having its majority content AI-generated.
There is a concern that not all learners may have equal access to these tools due to technological disparities, which could create a learning divide. While some schools and institutions may have the resources to invest in advanced AI systems and software, others may lack the necessary infrastructure or funding to provide their students with the same level of access.
This could mean that students in less privileged communities or schools may be at a disadvantage, missing out on the benefits of AI-powered learning tools and falling behind their peers who have access to them. Technology typically becomes cheaper over time, due to things like improved manufacturing processes, wider circulation and broader competition but this still may mean less privileged institutions could be left behind, using older or previous-generation tech which may not be as easy to use and learn from.
AI-powered language learning platforms collect a large amount of user data. However, many users are concerned about data privacy, security breaches, and of their personal information. As AI is implemented more heavily into platforms, it will require more data to function effectively. Therefore, advanced security systems must be implemented and kept up to date to ensure that user data is securely protected from potential data breaches.
As it's integrated more into people's lives and work, countries have begun Implementing AI-related laws to ensure the safe and ethical use of AI in daily life. Similarly, as AI develops, laws will need to constantly develop to keep up to date with technological advancements.
The field of language learning has a promising future with the advancement of AI. Below are some potential predictions for the not-so-far-away future:
will likely continue to advance, allowing AI systems to better understand, interpret, and generate human language. Helping it to understand the subtleties of human emotion. This will result in more advanced language learning applications with contextual understanding and nuanced feedback.
As technology advances, AI-driven language learning platforms are becoming increasingly popular. These platforms are now being designed to offer greater support for a wide range of languages, catering to the diverse linguistic needs of individuals worldwide. This will enable more people to access quality language education, regardless of their location or background.
With the help of these platforms, language learners could benefit from personalized and immersive learning experiences that are tailored to their unique needs and preferences.
VR and AR with AI will revolutionize the way we learn languages. This cutting-edge technology will create highly immersive environments that simulate real-life scenarios, allowing learners to practice their language skills in a safe and controlled environment. Mondly by ɫèAV is a great example of using this kind of technology in language learning with their and apps.
One example is that students could use virtual reality to travel to a foreign country and communicate with native speakers in real time. Easily ordering food from local restaurants or navigating through the city, all within the virtual reality platform. This type of experiential learning could significantly enhance cultural understanding, improve communication skills, and boost language proficiency, all in the comfort of home, school, or even the workplace.
With the increasing affordability and accessibility of such technologies, it is expected that such learning experiences will become more common. There are already VR with AI-controlled characters to produce more realistic and expanded responses to conversations, rather than responses being limited by a select few pre-programmed choices and getting the same few responses. This could also expand to language learning games/simulations.
The impact of AI on language learning is unquestionably transformative. It offers personalized, accessible, and efficient learning experiences. However, there are challenges such as the lack of human interaction and data privacy concerns. Therefore, we need to maintain a balanced approach while leveraging AI for language education.
As technology evolves, it's crucial to harness its potential while preserving the essence of authentic language acquisition and cultural understanding. The future promises exciting advancements that will further revolutionize language learning through AI integration.
English is one of the most widely-spoken languages in the world, but how much do you know about the language? Here are 11 facts about Englishthat you might not know.
Students all over the globe learn English for many reasons. Some of these motivations may come from the students themselves – perhaps they are learning because they are travelling to an English-speaking area, or they want to be able to converse with English-speaking friends and colleagues. Other reasons for learning could include meeting school requirements, studying abroad, or progressing their careers.
As well as different reasons to learn English, there are also different goals. Many students are still focused on becoming fluent in English, and we are seeing an increase in people who want to learn the language for specific reasons. For example, immersing themselves in a particular culture or simply being able to order from a menu while travelling abroad.
Teachers are focusing on these personal needs to help students achieve their actual goals. It’s likely you’ve already spoken to your students about why they want to learn English. Understanding this is important as different motivations can influence a student’s attitude towards learning the language – and it may be necessary for you to adapt your teaching strategies for different groups of learners.
Let’s meet some different groups of students, learn a little more about their motivations and explore whether different motivations alter how students learn English. You may recognise some of these learners in your classes.
These students are learning English for pleasure or personal reasons. It might be because of travel, social or family reasons or perhaps because a better grasp of English might assist them with their careers. There are also adult learners who could be learning English as an immigration requirement.
For example, 23-year-old Alice decided to learn English so she could meet people and have more meaningful interactions with her English-speaking neighbours. She says: “I was very shy and not very confident in speaking to people, but learning English helped me connect with others and meet new people. I have changed a lot.”
A motivation like Alice’s requires strong teacher support and peer motivation woven into structured learning. Alice can set her goals and with the GSE Learning Objectives map out what she needs to do to achieve them. Teacher encouragement and personal support – and easy access to digital coursework, a social community of others all learning English, and small classes that emphasise conversation – keep people like Alice engaged and motivated to achieve her language goals. “I cannot do it without them”, she says.
These learners are typically in a more formal type of English programme and are learning the language to achieve specific career milestones, such as a promotion. Their employer might even be paying for their learning or they might be reimbursed for the cost of their lessons.
Vincenzo is 33 and works as a Product Manager in Milan for an international organization with offices around the world. He says: “I asked to take English classes as part of my professional development. My company chose an English provider and gave me a choice of group or one-to-one classes. I chose one-to-one classes as I’m easily distracted.”
Professional learners like Vincenzo succeed using a blended learning model of learning in class and at home that they can tailor around their lives. They have a strong motivation to succeed – that’s why learning at home works for them – but step-by-step progress provided by the GSE Learning Objectives is also important to keep this motivation alive. “I met with my teacher once a week where we would work on mistakes I would make while speaking English. He would also give me extra practice materials, like interesting games and videos to listen to in my own time, to help me really get a better understanding of the language,” Vincenzo says.
Learning English is a requirement for many school programmes and students will continue this at college or university. Many of these students will be learning English with a formal course that offers practice tests for high-stakes exams.
Seventeen-year-old Subra is from Malaysia and learns English at school. Some of her family live in Australia and she is considering studying abroad to attend a University that specializes in health care. When she was young, she learned in a traditional classroom backed with tests that helped her see how she was progressing. Now she uses technology, such as her Android Huawei phone to practise her English but still needs the validation of regular testing to know she is on track.
Subrasays: “I am used to studying for tests as I prepared hard for exams to get into middle school and senior school, which was totally determined by test results.”
Academic learners like Subra need to see demonstrable results to help them stay motivated and guide them to the level of English they need to achieve to get the required score on high-stakes tests. With the clear GSE Learning Objectives and a placement test, academic learners can map out where they are right now and where they need to be in order to reach their academic goals. These learners need encouragement and validation of their progress from their teachers to help keep them on track.
Understanding student motivations will help you teach to their specific needs, thus helping them to stay focused and motivated in achieving their goals.
Kirsty Murray taught English for a year at a collège (the French equivalent of a secondary school) in Villers-Cotterêts: a town in the north of France known for being the birthplace of Alexandre Dumas. She taught mixed-ability groups of 11- to 16-year-olds, with classes ranging in size from 10 to 35 students. Here, she shares the five lessons she learned from the experience.
