Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a frequently misunderstood technology. When we hear the term “artificial intelligence,” many think of Star Wars or other science fiction robots with superintelligence and mimic human behavior. As a result, it’s tempting to believe that AI is still a long way off. The truth is that AI is already present in our daily lives in the shape of devices that execute routine chores.
AI is founded on the assumption that robots can quantify and imitate human intelligence. Although artificial intelligence has been around since 1956, the most recent genuine advancements in big data, deep learning, and machine learning occurred in 2015.
Algorithms are now everywhere, from self-driving cars to tailored marketing to bank fraud detection. In reality, AI has already become ingrained in many aspects of our daily lives.
Education is one of the domains where AI is being developed and deployed extensively. While no algorithm or robot can replace the role of a human instructor, AI can help make the learning process and some parts of teaching more accessible and more personalized.
Understanding and communicating in multiple languages opens up prospects for personal and professional success; hence language acquisition is of particular interest. Apps like Duolingo are well-known, but AI may assist language learners, particularly young language learners in the classroom, learn more effectively in various ways.
Language Learning AI Assists In The Establishment Of A Foundation
Any foreign language student knows that acquiring the essentials, such as the alphabet or writing system, grammar, and vocabulary, is the first step in learning a new language. However, in learning a second (or third!) language, each learner—and learners with different native languages—will face unique problems. Korean native speakers, for example, will struggle with some areas of English more than Russian native speakers.
Learners benefit from artificial intelligence language tools because they provide tailored feedback and learn about their strengths and weaknesses. Because AI learns by interaction, there are now applications or AI tools that can recognise which terms you don’t know and which words you do and adjust the type of education you receive accordingly. Young language learners can lay a strong foundation for more advanced communication abilities in this way.
AI tools also allow pupils to learn at their speed. Students can practise whatever they like and are not pushed to move on before they are ready, nor are they compelled to learn something they already know. AI tools open up a universe of information and real-life applications for language learning. Due to technology and artificial intelligence, you no longer need to travel to obtain foreign-language plays, news, music, or even books. Machine translation and AI-enabled online dictionaries can provide context and help pupils comprehend foreign languages more readily than ever before.
AI Assists Teachers In Classroom
AI systems can also provide immediate feedback, which means you won’t have to wait days or weeks to find out how you did on a test. While AI testing and grading systems are still known for their shortcomings, they are rapidly improving, as algorithms can do more demanding jobs like essay grading. When utilized in the classroom, these tools also allow teachers to observe what areas of the curriculum pupils are having difficulty with and alter their lessons accordingly.
Many people are concerned that the introduction of AI into the workplace would eliminate the need for humans and result in job displacement. While this is true in specific fields, such as healthcare, AI merely allows teachers to spend less time on repetitive activities and more time on constructive curriculum development in others, such as education.
Teachers can alter their curriculums and lessons to match better the requirements of their students with the help of grading tools and fast, personalized feedback on student progress. Instead of mindless drilling and administration, they can concentrate on the mentoring part of education. AI can also provide students with additional resources outside of the classroom, such as AI tutoring technology, which relieves teachers of doing everything.
AI And The Future Of Language Learning
Even though numerous language learning AI tools exist and are available to young learners, others argue that we are still in the early stages of what artificial intelligence can genuinely do. Data is essential to AI’s success, and as more tools are released, more data becomes available. Already, the field of AI writing tools has progressed well beyond Clippy, the Microsoft Suite assistant’s early days. Now, artificial intelligence systems like Trinka can “read” your academic essay and recommend technical vocabulary, grammar, style, tone, and presentation.
Another form of artificial intelligence tool for language learners that is rapidly evolving is chatbots. While chatbots are now famous for answering simple customer questions on commerce websites, they are gaining traction in universities. Chatbots can help you learn a language by practicing speaking with a machine trained to talk about the language you’re learning.
Chatbots will undoubtedly evolve to conduct more complicated and nuanced conversations in the not-too-distant future. Those who reside in countries where in-home artificial intelligence systems such as Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant are standard can even adjust the language settings on these devices to force them to practise speaking in their target language. Of course, such tools may be utilized on a wide range of devices.
Conclusion
Overall, artificial intelligence has a lot to offer language learners of all ages, but its current and potential classroom uses are more useful for younger students. So, what exactly are you waiting for? Begin incorporating AI tools into your language learning efforts right away. Contact the ONPASSIVE team.