Artificial Intelligence chatbots are giving users a new way to learn language in a more engaging and customizable way than ever before.
But despite all of these practical advantages, AI chatbots are still very limited in their infancy, according to Rachel Mamiya Hernandez, a language technology specialist and keynote speaker at a University of Hawai’i at Mānoa event on Tuesday.
One of the most important aspects of learning a new language is the ability to understand its culture, which is where these chatbots have a difficult time performing.
“Intercultural competence is an area for improvement,” Hernandez said. “It might not quite be at that level yet, but hey, pretty impressive where it is now compared to where it was six years ago.”
On Tuesday, the University of Hawaii’s Center for Language and Technology demonstrated AI chatbots as language instructors. Attendees witnessed firsthand how chatbots developed by the likes of OpenAI’s ChatGPT and MagicSchool can create a personalized learning experience and give instant feedback on the user’s interactions with the lessons.
AI is on the brink of revolutionizing the language learning world with so many different chatbots catered to suit different learning needs and goals.
And these special programs are not just for professors at the highest level. The chatbots’ lessons can be specifically tasked to provide activities within a certain language and difficulty level, allowing them to be used whether you are a teacher, student, or an independent learner.
As developers work increasingly on AI, the enhancement of cultural knowledge and competence is inevitable, significantly improving their effectiveness as language learning devices. Who knows the power these chatbots can hold in just the near future?
“I think the answer would be, it depends,” Hernandez said. “It depends on how they’re designed and how they’re used, but I think they have a lot of potential.”
The sky’s the limit for these innovative teaching machines, but ultimately, despite the numerous advantages of the AI chatbots as instructors, the core of language learning still lies with human connection.
In the words of Human Computer Interaction Specialist Dr. Richard Medina, “No technology can replace you.”
For now.
