Corey Carlson
High School Writing
October 10, 2024
In this technology-driven world, the field of translation is shifting from humans to devices every day. Businessmen and students are often caught in sight with applications such as Google Translate, DeepL, or ChatGPT displayed on the screen of their devices while facing a foreigner or solving homework from a second language class. The convenience of these online tools today is bringing up the question of whether education in second languages is worthwhile anymore. However, it is certain that some key aspects of human life and society, such as nuance, connection, and development, will be difficult to replace with the power of AI.
While some people point out the advantages of using AI as a learning platform, other people point to the downsides of learning foreign languages. Here, the main argument is whether learning a new language is worth the time and effort when AI is there to translate everything with only the effort to press the enter key (Baluta, 2024). Especially for those who speak English, learning another language does not become a priority when nearly 1.5 billion people speak their language (Dyvik, 2024). To put their claim together, why bother attempting to learn a new tongue and not ask AI when they provide people with a fast and satisfactory way to express themselves in other languages?
Although remarkable speed and ease is an advantage of AI learning, the fact that the information provided might not be true always trails around. As “Artificial intelligence is only as knowledgeable as the information it has been trained on” (5 Pros and Cons of AI in the Education Sector, n.d.), if the trained information was biased, the students could possibly receive lessons based on those distorted knowledge. Particularly, since the topic is about a language that the users knows nothing about, it could be harder than other topics for them to notice whether the information they gained is reliable or not. As learning true information is the minimum requirement and top priority in education, AI which does not meet this could be said as inadequate.
As the argument between the pros and cons of AI utilization and second language acquisition goes on, there are concrete reasons why AI can never beat human teaching. One of the main and obvious points are subtleties (Will AI Replace The Need For Learning Languages?, 2023). Although it is not so hard for humans to pick up minor nuances in the tone of others, AI is not so fond of this skill. Expressions such as irony and sarcasm could be taken more seriously than needed, and friendly and business tones could become mixed up at times. This not only fits for written language but in speaking as well. To gather, nuance and tones are indispensable in human communication, and as long as AI cannot cover this area, it is impossible to say that human teaching is no longer needed.
Another obstacle that AI cannot overcome is the cultural respect that comes with learning a foreign language. After all, language is not all about grammar and vocabulary. Rather, the cultural background of its development and the humanity of the people who use them count bigger. Replacing a shared language learning experience with AI learning would be equal to taking away the opportunity to foster mutual respect and social bond between the ones people communicate with, and if the language is a minor tongue, it might even eliminate the chance to “preserving cultural heritage against extinction” (Will AI Replace The Need For Learning Languages?, 2023). Therefore, to protect the human nature of accepting one’s culture and to keep alive fading languages, it is important that people continue to learn new languages.
It is often said that learning languages has a positive impact on one’s cognitive skills. The process of learning has several effects on the human brain, and the task of remembering new vocabulary and grammar rules especially enhances one’s memorization abilities. Numerous studies conducted until today have shown that bilingual people do better on work involving memory than monolingual people, and that their ability even leads to better multitasking and decision-making skills (Endeavour Speech LLP, 2024). Not only does the impact reflect on the present life, but it may also have a positive effect on the later life of humans. The decline in risk of diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s is pointed out between those who learn a new language, and it is an effect that people who rely only on AI can never experience.
To conclude, the benefits of learning foreign languages outweigh the disadvantages of it or the merits of using AI due to elements such as tone, connection, and cognitive development. The ongoing development of AI shows that using them as an assistance tool is not completely deniable. However, as the ability to absorb new languages and to communicate with the world is a capability that only humans have, it will be a waste to give away all of its potential and to be wholly devoted to the power of AI. It is crucial that humans protect their natural-born talent.
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References
Baluta, C. (2024, March 21). Learning a New Language: Pros and Cons. LinkedIn. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
Dyvik, E. H. (2024, July 4). The most spoken languages worldwide 2023. Statista. Retrieved September 23, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/266808/the-most-spoken-languages-worldwide/
Endeavour Speech LLP. (2024, May 15). The Cognitive Benefits of Language Learning Boosting Brain Health and Mental Agility. LinkedIn. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
5 Pros and Cons of AI in the Education Sector. (n.d.). Walden University. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
Will AI Replace The Need For Learning Languages? (2023, August 21). Pep Talk Radio. Retrieved September 23, 2024.