The role of foreign language learning in the AI ​​era

Technology is developing rapidly, artificial intelligence (AI) is born and perfected every day with many translation support tools, making learning and teaching foreign languages ​​​​no longer the same as before. Knowing and using foreign languages ​​is no longer the only necessary skill but must be accompanied by other professional competence.

Ms. Nguyen Le Tuyet Ngoc, Country Director of MTS (UK) and Director of HEW London Education Consulting Company (Vietnam), believes that even with the development of AI, learning English in particular and foreign languages ​​in general remains "extremely necessary." This is because, although AI can handle translation, only those with good English skills can best understand the layers of meaning and nuances of language.

Training for English language teachers

PHOTO: NGOC LONG

"AI can translate with high accuracy, but the ability to use language to persuade customers can only be optimally achieved by people who are proficient in foreign languages ​​and have strong negotiation skills. The more proficient a person is in foreign languages, the better they can utilize AI, because they can test the effectiveness of AI and create standardized commands for AI to serve humans. Not to mention, if in areas with no signal or no AI, we can only rely on ourselves," she said.

According to Ms. Ngoc, being proactive, independent, and reliable are the advantages of choosing to learn English in the age of AI.

Meanwhile, Do Nguyen Dang Khoa, a PhD candidate in English language teaching and applied linguistics at the University of Warwick (UK), believes that in the context of technological development, there is a possibility of the emergence of a real-time translation device, attached to the user's ear, with high accuracy thanks to AI. "In that case, the significance of learning English as an indispensable skill may be greatly diminished," Khoa stated.

"If that future unfolds, teaching and learning English will transform, from a survival skill to a supplementary skill like learning piano or martial arts, and people will learn it either out of enjoyment or for self-development, rather than out of compulsion. If this actually happens, it will require even more competent teachers as the market shrinks," said Master Khoa, emphasizing that this is a future more than a decade from now.

Regarding career opportunities for students in English-related fields in this context, Ms. Nguyen Le Tuyet Ngoc advises students to prepare two groups of skills. Firstly, general skills including communication, problem-solving, technology use, and a lifelong learning mindset. Secondly, specific skills related to their chosen profession to stand out, such as teaching, translation, interpretation, content creation, and international customer service.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/vai-role-of-learning-foreign-languages-in-the-ai-era-185250907212210731.htm