Can I use AI to learn English?
Artificial intelligence is becoming a part of our everyday life. Some people are pessimistic about what it might do to the world. Some experts think that AI will replace millions of jobs in the next fifteen years. Others are more optimistic, focusing on the benefits it can bring to humanity.
What about learning a language? Can it help? The simple answer is: yes – AI can help.
Using AI to Learn English
Like Duolingo, AI is best used to *supplement learning. Duolingo alone doesn’t give you the skills to become fluent in another language. It doesn’t:
● Teach you slang
● Show how ‘real’ people talk
● Give you pronunciation tips
● Give you real-life practice
However, it can enrich what you already know, like practising the form of the language – such
as the word order.
If you give AI platforms like ChatGPT the right *prompts, it can communicate with you in a way that is very similar to a friend, colleague or teacher.
You could use it to practise your written communication: start a conversation with ChatGPT by saying something as simple as: How are you? Although it’s obviously different from a conversation with a person, having a written conversation with AI might stop you from feeling worried about making mistakes! Or, you can always ask the AI to point out where you make
mistakes and how to fix them.
It can also help with grammar practice. Try giving it a prompt like: Give me 10 word-fill exercises to practise the Present Perfect Continuous.
AI language learning - substitute or support?
For example:
● If you let AI write your essay in English, you don’t practise building sentences or learning new words yourself.
● If AI always gives you answers, you don’t train your brain to think in English.
Think about the question: “If you could have a vending machine, what would it sell?” If you use AI immediately, you miss a chance to practise creativity, vocabulary, and fluency in English.
Summary
Glossary:
*prompt – something that encourages a person to say or do something
