The role of foreign language learning in the age of AI

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 a foreign language is no longer the only necessary skill but must be accompanied by other professional competencies.

Ms. Nguyen Le Tuyet Ngoc, Country Director of MTS Testing Agency (UK) and Director of HEW London Education and Training Consulting Company (VN), commented that despite the development of AI, learning English in particular and foreign languages ​​in general is still "extremely necessary". Because, although AI can take on the task of translation, only people with good English skills can understand the layers of meaning and hidden meanings of the language in the best way.

English teacher training

PHOTO: NGOC LONG

"AI can translate with high accuracy, but the ability to use language to persuade customers can only be optimally performed by people who are good at foreign languages ​​and have the ability to negotiate. People who are better at foreign languages ​​are more likely to be able to take advantage of AI, because they can test the effectiveness of AI and create standard commands for AI to serve people. Not to mention, if we are in an area with no signal or no AI, we can only rely on ourselves," she said.

Being proactive, independent and reliable are the advantages of choosing to learn English in the AI ​​era, according to Ms. Ngoc.

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

"If that future happens, teaching and learning English will change from a survival skill to a supplementary skill like learning the piano or martial arts, and people will learn it either because they like it or because they want to develop themselves, not because it is compulsory. If this really happens, it will require teachers to have better abilities when the market shrinks," said Master Khoa, but emphasized that this is the future of more than a decade.

Regarding career opportunities for students majoring in English in this context, Ms. Nguyen Le Tuyet Ngoc advised students to prepare two groups of skills. The first is a group of general skills including communication, problem solving, using technology, lifelong learning spirit... The second is specific skills related to the profession to become outstanding such as teaching, translation, interpretation, content creation, international customer care...

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/vai-tro-cua-hoc-ngoai-ngu-trong-thoi-dai-ai-185250907212210731.htm