Breaking Language Learning Barriers: How Generative AI and Educational Robots are Changing the Way We Learn Languages
With the fast-evolving technology, traditional methods of language acquisition, such as books and conventional lessons are no longer the exclusive ways of learning. In fact, a transformative revolution is underway in the world of language learning thanks to the application of generative artificial intelligence (A.I.) and chatbots. Professor Chen, an authority on educational robots, demonstrated how these two different tools are currently integrating well in the realm of education. Although generative A.I. and chatbots have altered language learning for younger learners and eliminated common barriers like environment, context, and opportunity, it is imperative to acknowledge both their potential benefits and associated concerns.
The most impressive advancement facilitated by chatbots in language learning is the development of interactive and contextualized Robot and Tangible (R & T) learning system. This innovation alleviates concerns about the lack of social interaction, which is an essential element in language acquisition. The human-robot interaction techniques enable chatbots to assign tasks for users, provide real-time feedbacks, and respond to user input. What’s more, the incorporation of tangible objects enhances the learning experience creates more realistic scenarios or activities to engage learners learning by doing since it is easier to understand when there is an actual contextual learning environment right in front of you. For instance, the robot can play the role of a cashier in a supermarket toy set to interact with the learner.
However, concerns arise when observing the use of generative A.I. and chatbots. Notably, the video of a real chatbot during a language learning session revealed several potential drawbacks. Despite the robot's ability to sustain a conversation, its monotonic voice and lacks of emotion are constantly disconcerting me during the entire time. From my perspective, the most important part of teaching consists not only the knowledge but also the interpersonal interaction between the teacher and the student. Overreliance on generative A.I. and chatbots when learning a language may result in a deficient learning experience, like the limited range of responses or lack of intonation.
In conclusion, the emergence of generative A.I. and chatbots among the field of language learning brings revolutionary changes, including great convenience and high efficiency. Moreover, the interactive and contextualized system introduced by these technologies forms a brand-new experience for both educators and students and also set a milestone of what a robot could do in education. Yet, there are still several aspects of this technique needs to be modified in order to be more human-like in my opinion. As the technology continues to evolve, there is a hopeful anticipation that these systems will be perfected and contribute significantly to the enhancement of language education.