Question 2:
Language teaching comprises many different areas such as the class preparation, material selection, classroom interaction, homework assignments, post-class evaluation. In what areas of language teaching have you had the most impact?
ChatGPT: The integration of artificial intelligence, including my presence, has had a significant impact on various aspects of language teaching. Here are some key areas that have been influenced: - Adaptive Learning and Personalization: Preparation of Classes: AI can assist teachers in preparing lessons by providing personalized content recommendations based on individual student needs and learning styles.
- Digital Learning Platforms: Selection of Materials: AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of language learning materials to recommend suitable resources based on the curriculum, students' proficiency levels, and learning objectives.
- Interactive Learning Environments: Classroom Interaction: AI-driven chatbots and virtual assistants can enhance classroom interactions by providing real-time language practice, answering questions, and engaging students in interactive conversations.
- Automated Assessment and Feedback: Homework Assignments: AI tools can automate the grading of assignments, providing instant feedback to students and freeing up teachers' time for more personalized instruction.
- Individualized Learning Paths: Homework Review: AI can analyze students' homework and performance data to identify areas of strength and weakness, enabling teachers to tailor future assignments and interventions to meet individual needs.
- Continuous Evaluation and Improvement: Post-Evaluation by Teachers: AI analytics can assist teachers in evaluating the effectiveness of their teaching methods, identifying trends in student performance, and making data-driven decisions to enhance instructional strategies.
- Language Skill Development: Speaking and Pronunciation Practice: AI-driven language applications can provide targeted feedback on pronunciation and speaking skills, offering learners opportunities for focused improvement.
- Assistive Technologies: Support for Diverse Learners: AI can provide additional support for learners with different proficiency levels and learning preferences, fostering inclusivity in language classrooms.
- Real-time Language Translation: Cultural and Linguistic Diversity: AI-powered translation tools can facilitate communication in multilingual classrooms, promoting a more inclusive and collaborative learning environment.
- Efficiency in Administrative Tasks: Administrative Tasks: AI can assist in automating administrative tasks, such as attendance tracking and record-keeping, allowing teachers to allocate more time to instructional activities.
While these areas highlight the positive contributions of AI in language teaching, it's crucial to consider ethical considerations, privacy concerns, and the need for a balanced approach that combines technology with effective pedagogical practices. Additionally, ongoing research and collaboration between educators and technologists are essential to ensure that AI continues to enhance, rather than replace, the human aspects of language teaching. | Bard: Large language models (LLMs) like me have had a significant impact on various aspects of foreign language teaching, including: - Class Preparation: LLMs can assist teachers in preparing engaging and effective lesson plans by providing personalized recommendations for materials, activities, and exercises based on learner data. They can also help teachers create interactive presentations, generate practice questions, and tailor instruction to specific learning styles.
- Resource Selection: LLMs can access and analyze vast amounts of language learning resources, including textbooks, online materials, and multimedia content. They can help teachers identify relevant and up-to-date resources that align with their curriculum and learner needs. Additionally, LLMs can generate personalized recommendations based on learner preferences and progress.
- Classroom Interaction: LLMs can be used to enhance classroom interaction by providing engaging prompts, role-playing scenarios, and interactive activities. They can also facilitate conversations between learners and native speakers or trained language models, promoting fluency and confidence in real-time communication.
- Homework Creation and Feedback: LLMs can assist teachers in creating personalized homework assignments, tailoring difficulty levels and providing immediate feedback on grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. They can also generate graded quizzes and assignments, saving teachers time and effort.
- Homework Evaluation: LLMs can analyze student homework submissions, identifying patterns in errors, common mistakes, and areas for improvement. This feedback can help teachers focus their instruction on specific learning gaps and provide targeted support to individual learners.
- Post-Evaluation and Reflection: LLMs can help teachers reflect on their teaching practices by analyzing feedback from students, parents, and colleagues. They can identify areas for improvement, suggest alternative teaching approaches, and provide data-driven insights to support continuous professional development.
In conclusion, LLMs are transforming the landscape of foreign language teaching by providing personalized tools and support for teachers and learners alike. These models are empowering teachers to create more engaging and effective lessons, while also providing learners with a wealth of resources and opportunities for practice and feedback. As LLM technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more innovative applications that further enhance language education and promote global communication.
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Both AIs discuss the impact of AI on personalisation and interaction. In addition, ChatGPT highlights the potential of AI to enhance aspects like class preparation, material selection, classroom interaction, homework assignments and review, post-evaluation by teachers, speaking and pronunciation practice, diversity, and assistance in administrative tasks. Bard focuses on areas such as class preparation, resource selection, classroom interaction, homework creation and feedback, homework evaluation, and post-evaluation and reflection.
Overall, personalization is discussed in greater depth than in the previous question, and its second mention underscores the significance attributed to this aspect by both AIs. It is crucial because it allows instruction to be tailored to individual learners' needs, preferences, and proficiency levels, promoting more effective language learning. The aspect of personalization represents one of the substantial changes that AI brings about in the field of teaching, which can be particularly important in language instruction due to its highly interactive nature in the classroom. The assessment of both AIs suggests that if implemented, this could lead to a significant advancement in language teaching, benefiting learners in ways that were previously unimaginable before the widespread accessibility of AI.
The emphasis both AIs place on interaction highlights the significant impact that ChatGPT, Bard, and other chatbots can have on the foreign language classroom, particularly their ability to serve as immediate learning partners for language learners. This direct engagement with a "native speaker" enables AI to simulate real-time written or oral communication, representing a paradigm shift from the pre-AI era, when contact with native speakers was limited to receptive rather than productive interactions, such as through YouTube videos. For instructors, AI can provide valuable insights into creating engaging role-playing scenarios and discussion opportunities, fostering more opportunities for students to engage in active dialogue and practise their language skills more than ever before. Interaction, therefore, represents a crucial aspect that will be significantly enhanced in the AI-supported foreign language classroom.
2.3 The Role of the Language Teacher after the Emergence of AI
With the availability of AI through the students, the function of the teacher is evolving. This raises the question of the teacher’s future role (Pokrivcakova 2019) as he or she will no longer be the sole source of information in the classroom:
Question 3:
How will the role and the importance of the foreign language teacher be positively or negatively affected by AI?
ChatGPT: The impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the role and importance of foreign language teachers is a complex and multifaceted topic. I'll discuss several dimensions to provide a comprehensive view. Positive Impacts: Personalized Learning: AI can enhance the adaptability of language instruction by providing personalized learning experiences tailored to individual students' needs. This allows teachers to focus on addressing specific challenges and facilitating a more effective learning process. Language Assessment: AI can assist in assessing language proficiency more accurately through advanced language processing algorithms. Teachers can utilize AI-driven assessment tools to gauge students' strengths and weaknesses, enabling targeted interventions. Resource Augmentation: AI can serve as a valuable resource for teachers, providing access to a vast array of language learning materials, interactive exercises, and multimedia content. This can enrich the learning experience and save teachers time in curriculum development. Language Practice and Immersion: AI-driven language applications can create immersive language practice environments, allowing students to engage in real-life conversations and scenarios. This fosters practical language skills and cultural understanding.
Negative Impacts: Depersonalization of Education: Excessive reliance on AI might lead to a depersonalization of education, where the human element is diminished. Language teaching is not only about conveying information but also about building relationships and understanding individual learning styles, which AI may struggle to replicate. Job Displacement Concerns: There are concerns about AI technologies replacing certain aspects of the teacher's role, potentially leading to job displacement. However, it's crucial to view AI as a tool that can augment the teacher's abilities rather than a complete substitute. Ethical Considerations: The use of AI in education raises ethical considerations, such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the need for transparent decision-making processes. Teachers must be aware of these issues to ensure responsible implementation. Overemphasis on Technology: There is a risk of overemphasis on technology, where the focus shifts from pedagogical principles to technological tools. Teachers need to maintain a balance, integrating AI as a supportive tool rather than the sole driver of the learning experience.
Conclusion: In conclusion, the impact of AI on foreign language teaching can be both positive and negative. It offers opportunities for personalized learning, improved assessment, and enhanced resources. However, it also poses challenges related to depersonalization, potential job displacement, ethical concerns, and the risk of overreliance on technology. The key is to approach AI as a complementary tool that empowers teachers and enhances the overall language learning experience. Teachers should actively engage with AI technologies, incorporating them thoughtfully into their teaching practices while preserving the essential human touch in education. | Bard: The role and importance of foreign language teachers are likely to be both positively and negatively affected by AI in the coming years. Positive impacts of AI on foreign language teaching: - AI has the potential to make foreign language learning more accessible, personalized, and effective. For example, AI-powered chatbots can provide personalized feedback and practice opportunities to learners, while adaptive learning systems can adjust instruction based on each learner's individual needs. AI can also be used to create engaging and immersive language learning experiences through virtual reality and augmented reality simulations.
- In addition, AI can help teachers automate administrative tasks, provide them with data-driven insights into student progress, and offer guidance on teaching strategies. This will free up teachers' time to focus on providing individualized support and fostering a positive learning environment.
- Some experts worry that AI could lead to a decrease in the demand for human foreign language teachers. If AI-powered systems can provide high-quality instruction for a fraction of the cost of a human teacher, schools may be tempted to invest in AI instead. This could lead to job losses for foreign language teachers, especially in areas with limited resources.
- Another concern is that AI could depersonalize the foreign language learning experience. While AI can provide personalized instruction, it may lack the warmth, empathy, and cultural sensitivity that human teachers can bring to the classroom. This could make it more difficult for students to develop a strong connection to the language and culture they are learning.
Negative impacts of AI on foreign language teaching: Recommendations for a harmonious integration of AI and human teachers: In order to maximize the benefits of AI while minimizing its potential negative impacts, it is important to integrate AI into the foreign language learning process in a way that complements, rather than replaces, human teachers. Here are some recommendations: Use AI to automate tasks that can be done more efficiently by machines, such as grading quizzes or providing routine feedback. This will free up teachers' time to focus on more personalized interactions with students. Use AI to create engaging and interactive learning experiences that students would not be able to access otherwise. This could include virtual travel experiences, language exchange simulations, or personalized language learning programs. Use AI to provide data-driven insights into student progress. This will help teachers to identify areas where students need additional support and to adjust their instruction accordingly. Provide professional development opportunities for teachers to learn how to use AI effectively in the classroom. This will help teachers to maximize the benefits of AI while minimizing its potential drawbacks.
Ultimately, the future of foreign language teaching will depend on the way AI is used to complement and enhance the role of human teachers. If used responsibly, AI has the potential to revolutionize foreign language learning, making it more accessible, personalized, and effective. However, it is important to ensure that AI does not replace the human element of teaching, which is crucial for fostering a positive learning environment and developing students' critical thinking and cultural sensitivity. |
Both ChatGPT and Bard acknowledge the positive impacts that AI can have on foreign language teaching. One common point that both AIs mention again is the potential for personalised learning experiences. AI can enhance the adaptability of language instruction by providing individualised learning experiences that consider individual students' needs, which allows teachers to focus on addressing specific challenges and facilitating a more effective learning process.
ChatGPT points to the immense potential of AI in language assessment, resource augmentation, and language practice and immersion. Furthermore, Bard recognizes the automation of administrative tasks as a favourable outcome. This aspect reinforces the teacher's future role as an educator rather than merely an administrator.
Neither ChatGPT nor Bard explicitly addresses the personal role of the teacher in the classroom, his or her significance, or their authority in their interactions with students. The question of whether a teacher's role might be undermined by the presence of another expert in the classroom does not seem to be relevant to the two chatbots interviewed. On the one hand, it is surprising that neither of them considers this important aspect. On the other hand, it is not entirely unexpected since AIs lack emotions and, therefore, are unlikely to consider human emotions. However, from a human perspective, this omission can be criticised.
Among the negatives mentioned by the two AIs, ChatGPT highlights ethical aspects (Adams et al. 2023, Hockly 2023, Miao & Holmes 2023 (2)) and the potential overemphasis on technology. Both ChatGPT and Bard express concerns about the depersonalisation of education and the possibility of teachers being replaced by AI. These two points are considered significant since both AIs mention them.
Excessive reliance on AI might indeed diminish the human element of teaching, which is crucial for building relationships and understanding individual learning styles. Whereas AI can provide personalised instruction, it may not give learners the warmth, empathy, and cultural sensitivity that human teachers bring to the classroom.
Another concern is job displacement. There are legitimate fears that AI could replace certain aspects of the teacher's role, leading to job losses. In this context, it will be all the more important to see AI as a tool that can enhance a teacher's skills, rather than as a complete replacement.
Interestingly, the harmonious relationship between a teacher and AI is perceived as a potential issue by Bard, who offers recommendations for establishing such a relationship.
Among the points raised by Bard, one stands out: the need to maintain a balance between technology and human presence (Ji et al. (2022). While AI can bring unimaginable benefits to the learning process, it cannot fully replace the essential qualities that human teachers bring to the classroom. Language teaching is not just about conveying information; it is about building relationships, understanding individual learning styles, and fostering critical thinking and cultural sensitivity. Therefore, it is crucial to approach AI as a complementary tool that empowers teachers and enhances the overall language learning experience, rather than relying solely on technology.
In this particular context, the second question pertains directly to the teacher's position and his or her continued authority within the classroom, despite the presence of AI.
The teacher's authority in interacting with pupils is a crucial aspect of their role. Will his or her word still carry weight? This is the focus of the next question:
Question 4:
Will the language teacher continue to be the authority in the foreign language classroom, or will AI be the authority?
ChatGPT: The role of the language teacher as the authority in the foreign language classroom is unlikely to be completely replaced by AI. Instead, the relationship between teachers and AI is more likely to evolve into a collaborative and complementary dynamic. Here are some key considerations: - Complementary Roles: AI can serve as a powerful tool to support language teachers rather than replace them. While AI can provide personalized learning paths, automate assessments, and offer instant feedback, the teacher's expertise is crucial for understanding the nuances of individual student needs, providing emotional support, and adapting instruction based on real-time classroom dynamics.
- Human Connection and Emotional Intelligence: Teachers bring a unique human touch to the learning experience. They provide emotional support, motivation, and a social context that AI may struggle to replicate. Language learning often involves cultural nuances and context, which teachers, with their cultural competence, can navigate effectively.
- Adaptability and Creativity: Language teachers possess the ability to adapt their teaching strategies based on the dynamic needs of the classroom. They can respond to unexpected challenges, foster creativity, and create a flexible learning environment, qualities that AI may find challenging to emulate.
- Facilitating Collaboration: Teachers play a vital role in fostering collaboration and communication among students. While AI can facilitate individual learning, teachers can create opportunities for group activities, discussions, and peer interactions that contribute to a richer language learning experience.
- Ethical and Moral Guidance: Teachers offer moral and ethical guidance, helping students navigate complex cultural and ethical considerations related to language use. AI lacks the ethical and moral reasoning capabilities inherent in human educators.
- Individualized Support: Teachers can provide tailored and nuanced support to individual students. They can recognize learning styles, address unique challenges, and offer encouragement in a way that acknowledges the diverse needs of learners, which AI might not fully comprehend.
- Cultural Context: Language teaching often involves conveying the cultural context of a language. Teachers can share personal experiences, stories, and insights that enrich the cultural understanding of the language, enhancing the learning experience beyond linguistic aspects.
While AI can offer valuable support by automating routine tasks, providing data-driven insights, and offering personalized learning experiences, the teacher's role remains essential in fostering a holistic and well-rounded language education. The optimal approach is a symbiotic relationship where AI enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of language teaching, allowing teachers to focus on aspects that require human intuition, empathy, and cultural understanding. | Bard: Language teachers and AI will likely have a complementary role in the future of foreign language teaching. AI will play a significant role in providing personalized instruction, interactive learning experiences, and data-driven insights, while teachers will continue to be the human experts who bring their knowledge, experience, and passion for language learning to the classroom. AI will not replace teachers but rather provide them with new tools and resources to enhance their teaching. AI can automate many routine tasks, such as grading homework and providing feedback, freeing up teachers to focus on more personalized and engaging instruction. AI can also generate personalized learning paths, adapt content to individual learner needs, and create immersive language environments. However, teachers will still play a crucial role in the foreign language classroom. They will be responsible for creating a supportive and engaging learning environment, fostering cultural understanding, and providing individualized support to students. They will also be the ones to interpret and apply AI-generated data to guide their teaching practices. In short, AI will become an invaluable tool for language teachers, but teachers will remain the central figures in the foreign language classroom. Their expertise, passion, and human connection with students will be essential for successful language learning. Here is a table summarizing the roles of teachers and AI in the future of foreign language teaching: 
Overall, the future of foreign language teaching will be a collaboration between teachers and AI, with each playing a distinct and essential role in enhancing language learning experiences for students.
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Both ChatGPT and Bard broadly agree that AI will play a significant role in language teaching. They emphasise the importance of teachers' expertise and the human element in the learning process. They also highlight the complementary nature of AI and teachers and suggest that AI will serve as a powerful tool to support language teachers rather than replace them. The teacher's expertise is seen as crucial in understanding individual student needs, providing emotional support, and adapting instruction based on real-time classroom dynamics. Teachers bring a unique human touch to the learning experience and offer emotional support, motivation, and cultural competence that presently, AI cannot offer accordingly. They possess adaptability, creativity, and the ability to foster collaboration and communication among their students. Teachers can also provide moral guidance, individualised support, and convey the cultural context of a language. Thus, for ChatGPT, the teacher's role remains essential in fostering a holistic and well-rounded language education (also Vogt & Flindt 2023). In addition to his analysis presented in the form of a running text, Bard provides a table that accurately depicts the situation, highlighting the teacher's role as a facilitator for learning and individual support, which becomes increasingly crucial with the emergence of AI.
Based on this analysis, the recognition of the complementary relationship between AI and teachers emerges as the most significant aspect of these responses. Rather than competing, AI and teachers harmoniously work together to enhance the learning experience. Teachers contribute their expertise, experience, and passion, while the human touch they provide remains essential for successful language acquisition. AI, on the other hand, automates routine tasks and improves efficiency. However, it is the teacher who creates a supportive and engaging learning environment. Both ChatGPT and Bard emphasise the ongoing and vital role that teachers will continue to play in the future of foreign language instruction.
In the subsequent subsection, we take a look at potential benefits for teachers in preparing lessons, as the presence of AI is likely to modify this task significantly.
2.4 Potential Benefits for Teachers in Preparing Lessons
The question posed for AI possibly befitting teachers for lesson preparation was this one:
Question 5:
How will AI help language teachers prepare their lessons? How will the collection of materials change?
ChatGPT: The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into language teaching can significantly impact the way teachers prepare their lessons and collect materials. Here are some key aspects to consider: - Personalized Content Recommendations: AI can analyze individual student performance, learning styles, and preferences to provide personalized content recommendations for teachers. By understanding each student's strengths and weaknesses, AI can suggest specific materials that cater to their needs, making lesson planning more targeted and effective.
- Adaptive Learning Platforms: AI-powered adaptive learning platforms can assess students' language proficiency levels and dynamically adjust the difficulty of learning materials. This ensures that teachers can easily differentiate instruction, catering to a diverse range of language abilities within the same classroom. Teachers can leverage these platforms to find suitable materials for various proficiency levels.
- Automated Content Creation: AI tools can assist teachers in creating engaging and tailored lesson materials. Natural Language Processing (NLP) algorithms can generate exercises, quizzes, and even dialogues based on specific language learning objectives. This automation allows teachers to allocate more time to other critical aspects of teaching, such as individualized student support and classroom interaction.
- Enhanced Resource Search and Curation: AI can streamline the process of searching for and curating language teaching materials. Advanced algorithms can analyze the vast amount of available resources, considering factors like relevance, quality, and alignment with learning objectives. This not only saves teachers time but also ensures they have access to a diverse range of high-quality materials.
- Real-time Feedback and Analytics: AI-driven assessment tools can provide teachers with real-time feedback on student performance. By analyzing students' responses, AI can identify areas of improvement and recommend additional materials or teaching strategies. This dynamic feedback loop allows teachers to adjust their lesson plans on the fly, responding to the immediate needs of their students.
- Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: AI can facilitate collaboration among language teachers by providing platforms for sharing lesson plans, strategies, and effective materials. By leveraging collective intelligence, teachers can benefit from a broader pool of resources and insights, fostering a more collaborative and supportive teaching community.
- Multimodal and Interactive Content: AI can enable the creation of multimodal and interactive learning materials. Virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and other immersive technologies can bring language lessons to life, offering students engaging and authentic experiences. Teachers can incorporate these interactive materials to make lessons more dynamic and appealing.
- Challenges and Considerations:
While AI offers numerous advantages in lesson preparation and material collection, it's crucial to consider potential challenges such as ethical considerations, algorithmic bias, and the need for teacher autonomy. Teachers should be mindful of maintaining a balance between AI assistance and their expertise, ensuring that technology serves as a supportive tool rather than a replacement for professional judgment.
In essence, AI's role in lesson preparation and material collection can revolutionize language teaching by providing personalized recommendations, automating content creation, and fostering collaborative communities of educators. The key is to approach AI integration with a thoughtful and informed perspective, recognizing both its capabilities and limitations in enhancing the language learning experience. | Bard: AI is poised to revolutionize the way language teachers prepare their lessons and gather materials, offering a multitude of benefits and transforming the learning experience for both teachers and students. Here's a comprehensive overview of how AI will impact lesson preparation and material collection in foreign language teaching: - Personalized Lesson Planning and Resource Discovery: AI-powered tools will assist language teachers in crafting personalized lesson plans tailored to individual student needs and learning styles. By analyzing student data, AI can identify areas of strength and weakness, suggesting appropriate vocabulary, grammar exercises, and interactive activities. This personalized approach ensures that lessons are engaging and effective for each learner, maximizing their progress and engagement.
AI-driven systems can also facilitate the discovery and curation of relevant language learning resources. Teachers can utilize AI-powered search engines to locate high-quality educational content, filtering results based on specific language levels, topics, and learning objectives. This eliminates the time-consuming task of manually searching for materials, allowing teachers to focus on creating engaging lessons and providing individualized support to students.
- Adaptive Learning and Personalized Feedback: AI can further enhance lesson preparation by incorporating adaptive learning mechanisms. AI-powered systems can monitor student performance in real-time, providing immediate feedback and adjusting the learning pace accordingly. This adaptive approach ensures that students receive the appropriate level of challenge and support throughout their learning journey, preventing boredom and frustration.
AI can also assist teachers in providing personalized feedback to students. Language assessment tools can analyze student writing samples, identifying grammatical errors, vocabulary gaps, and areas of improvement. This data-driven feedback can then be used to tailor lesson plans, focus on specific areas of need, and guide students towards proficiency.
- Automated Grading and Assessment: Time-consuming tasks such as grading quizzes, assignments, and language tests can be significantly streamlined with AI. AI-powered grading tools can automatically assess student work, providing teachers with detailed feedback and performance metrics. This automation frees up teachers' valuable time, allowing them to devote more attention to personalized interaction with students and creating engaging learning experiences.
- Content Creation and Generation: AI is revolutionizing content creation for language learning, enabling the development of personalized exercises, interactive dialogues, and customized multimedia materials. AI-powered tools can generate personalized vocabulary lists, practice questions, and creative writing prompts, tailored to the individual needs and interests of each student. This personalized approach ensures that language learning materials are engaging and relevant to students' learning goals.
- Virtual Language Partners and Conversational Practice: AI-powered virtual language tutors and chatbots can provide students with opportunities for personalized conversational practice. These AI assistants can engage in real-time conversations, providing feedback on pronunciation, grammar, and conversational fluency. This immersive language learning experience can enhance students' confidence and ability to communicate effectively in the target language.
- Data-Driven Insights and Progress Monitoring: AI can provide teachers with valuable data-driven insights into student progress. By analyzing student interactions, responses to exercises, and feedback, AI can identify patterns and trends in learning patterns. This data can then be used to inform lesson planning, identify areas for improvement, and track individual student progress.
Overall, AI is set to transform the way language teachers prepare their lessons, gather materials, and assess student progress. By leveraging AI's capabilities, teachers can create personalized, engaging, and effective language learning experiences for students, enhancing their language proficiency and fostering a deeper understanding of the target language and culture. |
ChatGPT and Bard provide comprehensive insights into AI that will impact lesson preparation and material collection for language educators. Both emphasise the potential for AI to provide a plethora of opportunities: personalised content recommendations, adaptive learning platforms, automated content creation, enhanced resource search and curation, real-time feedback and analytics, and multimodal and interactive content. They recognise the potential for AI to revolutionise the way language teachers prepare their lessons and gather materials, offering personalised lesson planning, resource discovery, adaptive learning, personalised feedback, automated grading and assessment, content creation and generation, virtual language partners, conversational practice, and data-driven insights and progress monitoring.
In addition, both AIs discuss different points. ChatGPT focuses on adaptive learning platforms, collaboration and knowledge sharing, and multimodal and interactive content. It also addresses potential challenges such as ethical considerations, algorithmic bias, and the need for teacher autonomy. Bard, on the other hand, emphasises resource discovery, automated grading and assessment.
Again, ChatGPT and Bard see the potential for AI to provide personalised content recommendations and adaptive learning platforms as one of the most important aspects for language teaching. Although it is and should be the responsibility and goal of every teacher to attend to their students' individual progress and cater to their needs, accomplishing this task is not always easy in the context of everyday school life. In this context, AI with its ability to analyse individual student performance and their learning styles, and its capacity to dynamically adjust the difficulty of learning materials, can be even more effective than the efforts teachers may exert, and on the other hand, it presents better opportunities for educators to enhance the efficiency of their lessons for each individual learner. This is particularly true because AI's potential to automate routine tasks allows teachers to dedicate their attention to every student's language development, thereby providing them with the optimal learning outcome possible.
In conclusion, the presence of AI in language teaching has the potential to optimise the way teachers prepare their lessons and collect and use their materials, giving students better opportunities for efficient and individualised learning than ever before.
In this context, it should be noted that changes may occur not only in the role of the teacher, but also in the role of the students.
2.5 The Role of the Language Student after the Emergence of AI
The question about the role of the language student complements the question about the role of the teacher:
Question 6:
How will the role of the language learner in school and university be positively or negatively affected by AI?
ChatGPT: Positive Impacts: - Personalized Learning Paths: AI can analyze individual learning styles, preferences, and progress, allowing for the creation of personalized learning paths. This adaptability ensures that students receive tailored instruction based on their specific needs, fostering a more efficient and effective learning experience.
- Enhanced Language Practice: AI-driven language applications can provide students with immersive language practice opportunities. Whether through chatbots, language exchange platforms, or virtual reality simulations, AI can create realistic language scenarios, enabling students to apply their knowledge in practical contexts.
- Immediate Feedback and Remediation: AI can offer real-time feedback on language exercises and assessments, identifying errors and providing explanations for improvement. This immediate feedback loop allows students to address weaknesses promptly, accelerating the learning process and building confidence.
- Access to Diverse Learning Resources: AI can facilitate access to a vast array of language learning materials. Through content curation algorithms, learners can explore a variety of resources such as articles, videos, and interactive exercises, enhancing their exposure to diverse linguistic contexts and cultural nuances.
- Customized Learning Tools: AI-powered tools can be designed to cater to specific language learning challenges. For example, applications can focus on pronunciation, grammar, or vocabulary based on individual student needs. This customization ensures that learners receive targeted support in areas where they require improvement.
Negative Impacts: - Overreliance on Technology: There is a risk that students might become overly dependent on AI tools, neglecting traditional language learning methods and interpersonal communication. Striking a balance between technology-assisted learning and traditional language instruction is crucial to maintaining a holistic approach to language education.
- Reduced Human Interaction: Language learning is not solely about mastering grammar and vocabulary; it also involves communication and cultural understanding. Excessive reliance on AI may diminish opportunities for authentic human interaction, potentially affecting students' ability to navigate real-life language situations.
- Ethical Considerations and Data Privacy: The use of AI in education raises concerns about data privacy and the ethical handling of student information. Safeguarding learners' personal data and ensuring transparent and responsible AI practices are essential to build trust and maintain ethical standards.
- Equity and Access Challenges: The availability of AI-driven language learning tools may not be uniform across different educational settings. There is a risk of creating disparities in access, with some students benefiting more from AI integration than others. Addressing these equity issues is crucial to ensuring inclusive language education.
Conclusion: In conclusion, the integration of AI into language education holds immense potential to positively impact language learners by providing personalized learning experiences, enhancing language practice, and offering immediate feedback. However, it is essential to navigate challenges such as overreliance on technology, the potential reduction of human interaction, ethical considerations, and addressing equity issues to ensure that AI serves as a supportive tool in the language learning journey. The key lies in leveraging AI to augment, not replace, the rich and multifaceted aspects of language education.
| Bard: AI is poised to revolutionize the role of the language learner in school and university settings, offering both positive and negative implications. Here's a comprehensive analysis of how AI will impact language learners: Positive Effects of AI on Language Learners - Enhanced Access and Flexibility: AI-powered language learning tools can be accessed anywhere, anytime, providing learners with greater flexibility and convenience to fit language learning into their busy schedules.
- Personalized and Adaptive Learning: AI can tailor learning experiences to individual needs and learning styles, ensuring that learners receive the appropriate level of challenge and support. This personalized approach can optimize learning outcomes and accelerate language acquisition.
- Immersive and Engaging Experiences: AI can create immersive language learning environments through virtual reality, augmented reality, and interactive multimedia simulations. These engaging experiences can enhance motivation and make language learning more enjoyable.
- Real-time Feedback and Correction: AI-powered language tutors and chatbots can provide real-time feedback on pronunciation, grammar, and conversational fluency. This immediate feedback can help learners identify and correct errors, improving their accuracy and fluency.
- Access to Native Speakers and Language Partners: AI can connect learners with native speakers or language partners for virtual conversations, providing opportunities for authentic language practice and cultural exchange.
- Data-driven Insights and Personalized Learning Plans: AI can analyze student data to identify areas of strength and weakness, suggesting personalized learning plans and resources. This data-driven approach can maximize the effectiveness of language learning.
Potential Negative Impacts of AI on Language Learners - Loss of Human Interaction and Feedback: While AI can provide valuable feedback, it may lack the empathy, cultural sensitivity, and personalized support that human teachers can offer. This could hinder language learners' ability to develop cultural understanding and effective communication skills.
- Dependency on Technology and Lack of Critical Thinking: Reliance on AI-powered tools could lead to a decrease in independent learning and critical thinking skills. Learners may become passive consumers of language rather than active participants in the learning process.
- Potential Bias and Inaccuracy in Language Data: AI algorithms are trained on vast amounts of data, which may contain biases. This could lead to inaccurate or inappropriate feedback, potentially negatively impacting language learners.
- Loss of Human Element in Language Learning: AI may contribute to a more impersonal and less engaging learning environment, potentially reducing motivation and enthusiasm for language learning.
Recommendations for a Balanced Integration of AI and Language Learners To maximize the benefits and minimize the potential drawbacks of AI in language learning, it is crucial to integrate AI tools effectively into a comprehensive learning approach that emphasizes both human interaction and technology-enhanced learning. Here are some recommendations: Leverage AI for Personalized Learning and Practice: Use AI to provide personalized feedback, adjust the learning pace, and tailor learning materials to individual needs. Utilize AI for Interactive and Engaging Activities: Employ AI-powered games, simulations, and virtual experiences to make language learning more fun and engaging. Foster Human-AI Collaboration: Integrate AI tools into teacher-led lessons, allowing teachers to provide personalized guidance and cultural context. Promote Critical Thinking and Independent Learning: Encourage learners to use AI tools as a resource, but emphasize the importance of critical thinking and independent learning. Maintain Ethical Use of AI: Ensure that AI algorithms are free of bias and that data collection and use align with ethical principles.
Conclusion: AI has the potential to revolutionize the landscape of foreign language learning, offering both transformative benefits and potential challenges. By carefully integrating AI tools into a balanced learning approach that emphasizes human interaction and critical thinking, we can maximize the positive impact of AI while mitigating potential drawbacks. Ultimately, the future of language learning lies in a harmonious collaboration between human teachers and intelligent technologies, ensuring that learners receive the personalized, engaging, and effective instruction they need to achieve proficiency in the target language and gain a deeper understanding of the target culture. |
ChatGPT’s and Bard's answers to this question and the previous one about teachers overlap to a certain extent. Both AI’s emphasise the potential for AI to provide personalised and adaptive learning experiences, immersive and engaging language practice, real-time feedback and correction, access to native speakers and language partners, and data-driven insights and personalised learning plans. They both recognise the benefits of AI in enhancing access, flexibility, and personalised learning experiences for language learners. Additionally, both AIs acknowledge the potential negative impacts of AI, such as the loss of human interaction and feedback, dependency on technology, potential bias and inaccuracy in language data, and the loss of the human element in language learning.
Only ChatGPT focuses on personalised learning paths, remediation, access to diverse learning resources, and customised learning tools. It also addresses potential challenges such as overreliance on technology, reduced human interaction, and equity.
Only Bard provides recommendations for a balanced integration of AI and language learners, emphasising the importance of human-AI collaboration (also Molick & Molick 2023), decreasing critical thinking skills, and the importance of AI’s algorithms being free of any ethical bias.
The most important aspect for language learners, mentioned by both ChatGPT and Bard, is, again, the potential of AI to provide personalised and adaptive learning experiences, its ability to adapt the learning experience to the needs of the individual, ensuring that learners receive the appropriate level of challenge and support, and its potential to provide real-time feedback and correction. Access to native speakers, already facilitated by the existence of YouTube, is another very important point in this context, and even more so access to language partners, which has never been easier than in the era of AI.
It is interesting that neither AI takes into account the emotional role of the language learner. Although they both talk about reducing human interaction, they do not mention any negative effects this might have on the learner at an emotional level. This is not surprising, however, as AIs by nature do not have feelings and therefore cannot assess the emotional side of humans. Instead, Bard sees opportunities for "human-AI collaboration" by incorporating AI into lessons designed by human teachers. It remains to be seen whether this kind of interaction will compensate for the reduced human interaction. Scepticism remains.
2.6 AI as a Learning Partner for Students
AI can serve as a direct partner for students to learn with (Belda-Medina & Calvo-Ferrer 2022). This aspect is addressed by the following question:
Question 7:
What opportunities do you see for students to interact directly with AI in the foreign language classroom, with AI as their direct learning partner?
ChatGPT: The direct interaction of pupils with AI in the foreign language classroom can offer several opportunities to enhance language learning experiences. Here are some potential opportunities: - Real-Time Language Practice: Opportunity: AI can serve as a real-time language practice partner, engaging students in conversations, providing feedback on pronunciation, and offering interactive language exercises. This can create a dynamic and immersive language learning environment.
- Personalized Learning Paths: Opportunity: AI can analyze individual student performance and tailor learning paths based on their strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles. This personalization ensures that students receive targeted practice and support in areas where they need improvement.
- Adaptive Assessments:Opportunity: AI-powered assessments can adapt to students' proficiency levels, offering challenges that align with their abilities. This ensures that assessments are neither too easy nor too difficult, providing a more accurate measure of language proficiency.
- Language Skill Development: Opportunity: AI tools can focus on specific language skills, such as listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students can receive targeted practice and feedback in each skill area, promoting comprehensive development of language proficiency.
- Immediate Feedback and Corrections: Opportunity: AI can provide instant feedback on students' language exercises, correcting errors, and offering explanations. This immediate feedback accelerates the learning process and helps students reinforce correct language usage.
- Conversational Language Learning: Opportunity: AI chatbots and virtual language tutors can engage students in conversational practice, simulating real-life language interactions. This dynamic and interactive approach can boost students' confidence in using the language in authentic situations.
- Cultural and Contextual Learning: Opportunity: AI can contribute to cultural and contextual learning by providing information about cultural nuances, idioms, and real-world language use. This enriches students' understanding of the cultural aspects of the language.
- Gamified Language Learning: Opportunity: AI can be integrated into gamified language learning platforms, turning language practice into interactive and enjoyable experiences. Gamification elements, such as rewards and challenges, can motivate students to engage actively with the language.
- Multimodal Learning Experiences:Opportunity: AI can support multimodal learning by incorporating various types of media, such as videos, audio clips, and interactive simulations. This provides a diverse range of learning experiences, catering to different learning preferences.
- Speech Recognition Technology: Opportunity: AI-driven speech recognition technology can evaluate students' pronunciation and intonation. This feature allows students to receive targeted feedback on their spoken language skills, improving their overall communication abilities.
- Support for Diverse Learners: Opportunity: AI can offer additional support for diverse learners, including those with different learning styles, paces, and preferences. This inclusivity ensures that language learning is accessible and adaptable to individual needs.
It's important to note that while these opportunities can enhance language learning, a balanced approach is essential. Human interaction, cultural understanding, and the guidance of a skilled language teacher remain invaluable aspects of the language learning experience. AI should complement, not replace, the human elements that contribute to a comprehensive language education. | Bard: The integration of AI into the foreign language classroom offers a wealth of opportunities for pupils to interact with AI directly, with AI serving as their personalized learning partner. Here are some specific examples of how AI can be used to enhance foreign language learning through direct interaction: - Personalized Learning Path Generation: AI can analyze student data, including language proficiency, learning styles, and interests, to tailor personalized learning paths. This allows pupils to progress at their own pace and receive instruction that aligns with their specific needs and preferences.
- AI-Powered Interactive Lessons: AI can create interactive lessons that incorporate multimedia content, dynamic elements, and real-time feedback. This makes learning more engaging and interactive, helping pupils retain information more effectively.
- AI-Assisted Conversation Practice: AI-powered chatbots and virtual language partners can provide conversational practice for pupils in a real-time setting. This allows pupils to develop fluency and confidence in speaking the target language.
- AI-Powered Grammar and Vocabulary Feedback: AI can analyze pupil's writing and speaking, providing immediate feedback on grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation errors. This helps pupils identify and correct mistakes, improving their overall language proficiency.
- AI-Generated Cultural Resources: AI can generate personalized cultural resources, such as videos, articles, and quizzes, that align with the specific needs of each learner. This fosters cultural understanding and enhances the overall language learning experience.
- AI-Powered Error Analysis and Correction: AI can analyze pupils' written and spoken language, identifying patterns in errors and providing targeted feedback. This helps pupils pinpoint areas for improvement and develop stronger language skills.
- AI-Powered Adaptive Learning: AI can adapt learning materials and activities to pupil's performance, ensuring that they are challenged appropriately and receive the support they need to succeed. This personalized approach optimizes the learning process.
- AI-Powered Gamified Language Learning: AI can incorporate gamification elements into language learning, making it more fun and engaging for pupils. This can motivate pupils to practice and improve their language skills.
- AI-Powered Language Exchange and Collaboration: AI can connect pupils with native speakers or other learners for language exchange and collaboration. This provides pupils with opportunities to practice their speaking and listening skills in real-world contexts.
- AI-Powered Progress Monitoring and Assessment: AI can track pupils' progress over time, providing them with regular feedback and assessments. This helps pupils identify their strengths and weaknesses and make informed decisions about their learning goals.
By integrating AI into the foreign language classroom in these ways, pupils can interact with AI directly as a personalized learning partner, enhancing their language acquisition journey and paving the way for greater fluency, confidence, and cultural understanding.
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ChatGPT and Bard both emphasise the potential for AI to offer personalised learning paths, real-time language practice, language skill development, conversational language learning, immediate corrections, cultural and contextual learning, gamified language learning, and adaptive assessments. Both AIs recognise the potential of AI to provide personalised language learning experiences for students, which was mentioned repeatedly in their previous responses.
In addition, ChatGPT focuses on the opportunities for AI to serve as a real-time language practice partner, adaptive assessments, cultural and contextual learning, multimodal learning experiences, speech recognition technology, and support for diverse learners. It also emphasises the importance of a balanced approach, highlighting the value of human interaction, and the guidance of a skilled language teacher in the language learning experience.
Moreover, Bard emphasises the opportunities for AI to offer, AI-assisted conversation practice, AI-powered grammar and vocabulary feedback, AI-generated cultural resources, AI-powered error analysis and correction, AI-powered adaptive learning (both AIs have mentioned this multiple times up to this point), AI-powered language exchange and collaboration, and AI-powered progress monitoring and assessment.
ChatGPT's and Bard's responses to the question of AI as a direct learning partner highlight the importance of real-time language practice, conversational language learning and immediate correction, all of which are interrelated. Prior to the emergence of AI, it was not possible for language learners to have constant access to native speakers for conversation or linguistic guidance. The presence of AI has improved language learning by providing learners with reliable information about their language output, offering grammatical corrections, and enabling written or oral communication with an AI (Rusmiyanto et al. 2023). Corrections are available immediately and at any time, making it easier to perfect language skills at any level, from beginner to proficient. The use of gamification in the communication with an AI, as has been noted by both ChaGPT and Bard, is an attractive aspect.
2.7 The Importance of Teaching and Learning Foreign Languages in the Future Despite the Presence of AI
With AI translation and even real-time interpreting assured (Delorme Benites 2023), there may be less need to learn foreign languages. Therefore, during the interview, the two AIs were asked whether they thought it would be worthwhile to learn foreign languages in the future:
Question 8:
Will language learning still be necessary? Now that students have instant access to content-generating AI and language-providing apps like Google Translate, will they need to learn foreign languages at all? In the future, it will be possible to interact with people of other languages without either of them speaking the other's language.
ChatGPT: While AI and language translation apps like Google Translate offer powerful tools for communication across languages, foreign language teaching remains crucial for several reasons, and learning a foreign language is likely to continue being necessary. Here are key points to consider: Cultural Understanding: Foreign language learning goes beyond just linguistic proficiency; it involves gaining insights into different cultures, traditions, and ways of thinking. This cultural understanding is essential for effective communication, collaboration, and navigating global contexts.
Complex Communication: While AI tools can assist in basic communication and translation, they may struggle with complex language nuances, idioms, and cultural references. Learning a foreign language enables individuals to engage in more nuanced and sophisticated communication.
Personal and Professional Development: Proficiency in a foreign language is often viewed as a valuable skill in personal and professional development. It opens up opportunities for international travel, cross-cultural collaboration, and career advancement in a globalized world.
Relationship Building: Learning a foreign language fosters stronger connections and relationships. The effort to speak another person's language is often appreciated and can contribute to building trust, empathy, and meaningful interpersonal connections.
Language as a Tool for Critical Thinking: Learning a foreign language enhances cognitive abilities, including critical thinking and problem-solving skills. It challenges individuals to think in different linguistic frameworks, promoting mental flexibility and creativity.
Global Citizenship: Foreign language learning contributes to the development of global citizens who are aware of and engaged with the broader world. It promotes a sense of empathy, tolerance, and an understanding of diverse perspectives.
Travel and Exploration: Proficiency in a foreign language enhances the travel experience. It allows individuals to immerse themselves in local cultures, communicate effectively while traveling, and navigate various situations more confidently.
Maintaining Language Diversity: Learning and preserving different languages contribute to maintaining linguistic diversity. Each language carries unique cultural and historical significance, and language education plays a role in preserving this diversity.
Effective Communication in Various Contexts: AI tools may struggle to adapt to specific communication contexts, such as professional settings, academic environments, or diplomatic exchanges. Learning a foreign language equips individuals to communicate effectively in diverse situations.
Learning Beyond Translation: Language learning involves more than translation. It includes grasping the nuances of expression, understanding cultural subtleties, and acquiring the ability to use language creatively. These aspects go beyond the capabilities of current AI tools.
While AI can assist in language-related tasks, the human element in communication, cultural understanding, and the ability to navigate complex social interactions remains crucial. Foreign language teaching continues to provide a holistic approach to language learning, emphasizing not only linguistic proficiency but also the broader skills and knowledge that come with understanding and using a foreign language. As technology evolves, the role of language teachers may adapt, incorporating AI tools to enhance the learning experience while maintaining the importance of human guidance and cultural context in language education. | Bard: While AI tools like language translation apps and content-generating AI are making it easier than ever to communicate with people from different cultures, foreign language teaching will still be essential for several reasons: Accuracy and Fluency: AI translation tools are not always accurate, and they can sometimes produce unnatural or awkward-sounding language. Human language learners, on the other hand, can develop a deeper understanding of the nuances and subtleties of a language, allowing them to express themselves more accurately and fluently. Cultural Understanding: AI tools can provide access to cultural information, but they cannot replace the personal connection and empathy that human language learners develop when they immerse themselves in a different culture. By interacting with native speakers and experiencing the culture first-hand, language learners can gain a deeper understanding of the values, customs, and traditions of another society. Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: While AI tools can provide immediate answers and solutions, they do not develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are essential for effective communication. Language learners need to be able to analyze information, identify context, and adapt their communication accordingly. Creative Expression and Innovation: AI tools can generate creative text formats, but they cannot replicate the creativity and innovation that human language learners bring to their communication. Language learners can express themselves in original and meaningful ways, using language to explore new ideas and perspectives. Global Citizenship and Intercultural Communication: Language learning is not just about acquiring a new set of words and grammar rules; it's about building bridges between cultures and promoting global understanding. Language learners can develop empathy for people from different backgrounds, fostering intercultural communication and collaboration. In the future, AI tools may play an even greater role in language education, providing personalized learning experiences, interactive exercises, and access to native speakers. However, human language teachers will still be needed to provide the human connection, cultural insights, critical thinking skills, and creativity that are essential for effective communication and understanding in an increasingly globalized world. In conclusion, while AI tools are making it easier to communicate with people from different languages, foreign language teaching will remain essential for developing the skills and knowledge that are necessary for effective communication, cultural understanding, and global citizenship. AI tools can complement human language teaching, but they cannot replace the human element that is crucial for truly understanding and appreciating other cultures. |
ChatGPT and Bard agree that foreign language teaching will still be necessary, despite the availability of AI tools like Google Translate, DeepL and other comparable apps. They both emphasise the importance of cultural understanding, language as a tool for critical thinking, global citizenship, the human element in communication, and effective communication in various contexts.
ChatGPT highlights personal and professional development, relationship building, travel and exploration, maintaining language diversity and the fact that language learning goes beyond translation.
Bard adds the following points: accuracy and fluency, creative expression and innovation, and the future role of AI in language education.
The points mentioned by both AIs clearly indicate the most important aspects of this question, i.e. the human element in communication and language learning. Although AI tools can aid in language-related tasks, they cannot substitute the cultural understanding, empathy, and meaningful connections that come with learning a foreign language. Language teachers play and will continue playing a crucial role in providing guidance, cultural context, and the broader skills and knowledge that go beyond linguistic proficiency. AI tools can enhance the learning experience, but the human element remains essential for truly understanding and appreciating other cultures. While this analysis is realistic from today's point of view, it is important to recognise that the future is uncertain, especially as AI continues to learn exponentially every day.
2.8 The Impact of AI on Student Assessment
With AI's ability to correct language errors, improve style and even generate content, assessing student performance is becoming increasingly difficult (Berthele & Udry 2023, Delorme Benites 2023). For this reason, the impact of AI on student assessment was covered in the next question:
Question 9:
How will AI affect student assessment? For example, if students are asked to write an English essay, they can have their work done by you. If they have to give presentations, they can have their complete presentations done by AI, including perfect content and correct language, to give just two examples. So how do you assess the performance of individual students when there are you and other AIs in the world?
ChatGPT: The integration of AI in student assessment introduces both opportunities and challenges. While AI can assist in certain aspects of assessment, there are considerations to ensure fair, meaningful, and comprehensive evaluation of individual students. Here are some consequences and considerations regarding student assessment in the presence of AI: Opportunities: - Automated Grading: AI can automate the grading of objective assessments, such as multiple-choice questions, providing instant feedback to students and saving teachers time on routine grading tasks.
- Language Proficiency Evaluation: AI-driven tools can assess language proficiency, including grammar, vocabulary, and writing skills. Automated language assessment can provide insights into a student's language abilities, helping tailor instruction to individual needs.
- Data-Driven Insights: AI analytics can generate data-driven insights into student performance trends, identifying areas of strength and weakness. This information can inform instructional strategies and interventions to enhance learning outcomes.
- Adaptive Assessments: AI can adapt assessments based on individual student performance, providing more challenging questions for high-performing students and additional support for those who may be struggling. This adaptive approach tailors assessments to the unique needs of each student.
Challenges and Considerations: - Authenticity and Originality: The ease with which students can access AI-generated content raises concerns about the authenticity and originality of their work. Teachers must implement strategies to ensure that assessments reflect the students' own understanding and effort.
- Complex Problem-Solving Evaluation: AI may struggle to assess complex problem-solving skills that require critical thinking, creativity, and application of knowledge in unique ways. Assessments that involve higher-order thinking may still require human evaluation.
- Ethical Use of AI: There is a need for educating students about the ethical use of AI in assessments. Emphasizing the importance of integrity, original thinking, and responsible technology use is crucial.
- Combating Plagiarism: Teachers need to employ plagiarism detection tools and strategies to identify instances where students may submit AI-generated or copied content. Clear policies and consequences for academic dishonesty are essential.
- Holistic Evaluation: AI may focus on specific aspects of student performance, such as language proficiency or objective knowledge. However, holistic evaluation should also consider other skills, including interpersonal skills, communication, and collaborative abilities that AI may not easily assess.
- Adaptation to Subjectivity: Some assessments, such as essays, presentations, or projects, involve subjective evaluation that considers creativity, expression, and unique perspectives. Subjective aspects may be challenging for AI to assess accurately.
- Preparation for Real-World Challenges: Assessments should prepare students for real-world challenges where collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving are essential. Balancing AI-driven assessments with tasks that mirror real-world expectations is important.
- Individualized Feedback: While AI can provide automated feedback, the personal touch of individualized feedback from teachers remains important. Teachers play a key role in offering constructive feedback that addresses students' specific strengths and areas for improvement.
In summary, while AI can streamline certain aspects of student assessment, it is essential to maintain a balanced approach that combines the strengths of AI with the nuanced and holistic evaluation provided by human educators. Establishing clear guidelines, fostering ethical use, and leveraging AI as a tool to support rather than replace human judgment are key considerations for the future of student assessment | Bard: The emergence of AI has the potential to reshape student assessment in several ways. On the one hand, AI tools can automate many tasks that are currently done manually by teachers, such as grading essays, providing feedback, and generating rubrics. This can free up teachers' time to focus on more personalized instruction and support for students. On the other hand, AI tools also raise concerns about fairness and validity in assessment. For example, if students can use AI to generate their essays or presentations, it can be difficult to assess their true understanding of the material. Additionally, AI tools may not always be able to capture the nuances of human language and creativity, which can affect the assessment of essays, creative writing, and other tasks that require these skills. To address these challenges, educators and developers are exploring new methods for using AI in assessment that are more fair and valid. These methods include: Using AI to identify patterns in student work, such as common errors or strengths. This information can be used to provide targeted feedback to students and help them identify areas for improvement. Developing AI models that are trained on large datasets of student work to learn how to identify different levels of proficiency. This can help to ensure that assessments are more objective and consistent. Using AI to generate realistic but flawed prompts or tasks that students cannot easily replicate with AI tools. This can help to assess students' ability to think critically and creatively.
In addition to these technical solutions, educators can also use a variety of strategies to mitigate the potential negative impacts of AI on student assessment: Educating students about the limitations of AI and encouraging them to use it responsibly. This can help to ensure that students understand that AI is a tool to assist their learning, not a replacement for it. Integrating AI tools into assessment in a way that does not replace the human element of teaching. Teachers should continue to play a central role in assessing student work, providing feedback, and creating engaging learning experiences. Using AI tools to complement other assessment methods, such as formative assessments, portfolios, and teacher observation. This can help to provide a more holistic assessment of student learning.
By carefully considering the potential benefits and risks of AI, educators can harness its power to enhance student assessment while maintaining the integrity and fairness of the process.
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Both Chat GPT and Bard discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with the integration of AI in student assessment. Here, neither of the AIs specifically refer to language assessment. They acknowledge that AI can automate certain aspects of assessment, such as grading objective assessments and evaluating language proficiency. Additionally, both highlight the potential for AI to provide feedback on the importance of authenticity and holistic evaluation in the presence of AI.
Chat GPT provides a comprehensive list of opportunities and challenges related to AI in student assessment. The opportunities mentioned include automated grading, language proficiency evaluation, data-driven insights, and adaptive assessments. The challenges and considerations discussed include authenticity and originality, complex problem-solving evaluation, ethical use of AI, combating plagiarism, holistic evaluation, adaptation to subjectivity, preparation for real-world challenges, and individualised feedback.
Bard mentions the automation of tasks such as grading essays, and generating rubrics. The answer highlights concerns about fairness and validity in assessment when students use AI to generate their work. Bard suggests using AI to identify patterns in student work, developing AI models trained on large datasets, and generating realistic but flawed prompts or tasks. Bard’s answer also emphasises the importance of educating students about the limitations of AI, integrating AI tools without replacing the human element, and using AI to complement other assessment methods.
Overall, both ChatGPT and Bard answer the problem raised in the question, i.e. that in the presence of AI, student performance is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to assess, only partially, by dwelling on the advantages of AI in the area of student assessment. Bard explores this issue in more depth and tries to make fruitful suggestions, such as formative assessment and teacher observation. That said, the most important point surely is the need for a balanced approach that combines the strengths of AI with the nuanced and holistic evaluation provided by human examiners. It is only if teachers give away their power and competence to assess students’ (language) performance: teachers not only play a crucial role in providing constructive feedback that addresses students' specific strengths and areas for improvement, they may also be the only ones to set the assessment criteria and the ways in which they can be met. AI can only support the assessment work of human beings. Teachers must remain the ultimate decision-makers and not leave their students to the power of AI. This is a crucial point to remember for the future.
The interview with ChatGPT and Bard concluded with a discussion of the potential impact of AI on language methodology.
2.9 Shifting Significance: The Impact of AI on Foreign Language Methodology
The question below asks about the areas of language methodology that may gain or lose importance with the emergence of AI:
Question 10:
Which areas of foreign language methodology will become more important and which will become less important with the advent of artificial intelligence?
ChatGPT: The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into foreign language teaching introduces transformative possibilities in language methodology. The impact on various areas can be nuanced, with some becoming more crucial and others potentially less emphasized. Areas that may become more important: - Adaptive Learning Strategies: With AI's ability to assess individual learner needs and adapt content accordingly, personalized learning strategies will gain prominence. Tailoring instruction to students' proficiency levels, learning styles, and pace will become a central focus, enhancing overall effectiveness.
- Data-Driven Instruction: AI's capacity to analyze vast amounts of data can empower educators with valuable insights into student performance and learning patterns. Utilizing data-driven approaches, teachers can make informed decisions, identifying areas of improvement and customizing lesson plans to address specific challenges.
- Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT): AI can facilitate immersive, task-based language teaching through interactive simulations and real-world scenarios. Language learners can engage in practical tasks, such as virtual conversations or problem-solving exercises, fostering application-oriented language skills.
- Multimodal Learning Experiences: AI technologies, including virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), can create immersive and multimodal learning experiences. Incorporating these technologies into language instruction can enhance comprehension and cultural understanding, making lessons more engaging and memorable.
- Continuous Assessment and Feedback: AI-driven continuous assessment tools can provide instant feedback to learners, enabling timely correction and reinforcement. This real-time feedback loop promotes a dynamic learning environment, allowing students to track their progress and address language challenges promptly.
Areas that may become less emphasized:
- Rote Memorization: AI's focus on adaptive learning and contextual understanding may reduce the emphasis on rote memorization of vocabulary and grammar rules. Learners can benefit from more dynamic and context-driven approaches rather than relying solely on memorization.
- Traditional Classroom Dynamics: The traditional role of the teacher as the primary source of information may evolve. With AI serving as a resource for content delivery, teachers may increasingly transition towards facilitating discussions, guiding collaborative projects, and providing individualized support based on AI-generated insights.
- Static Teaching Materials: Static, one-size-fits-all teaching materials may become less prevalent as AI enables the creation and recommendation of dynamic and adaptive content. Educators may shift towards utilizing a variety of multimedia resources, adjusting materials based on real-time learner needs.
- Uniform Instructional Pace: AI's adaptive learning capabilities challenge the idea of a uniform instructional pace for all students. Traditional methods that assume a fixed progression rate may be reconsidered, allowing for more flexibility and individualization in pacing to accommodate diverse learning speeds.
Considerations: It's important to note that while AI can enhance various aspects of language methodology, human expertise remains crucial. Teachers play a pivotal role in guiding and supporting learners, fostering critical thinking, and navigating the ethical considerations associated with AI in education. The effective integration of AI should complement, not replace, the rich pedagogical insights that human educators bring to the language learning experience. As the field evolves, a balanced and collaborative approach between AI and human instructors will likely yield the most effective results. | Bard: The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming foreign language methodology. While AI will not replace the role of teachers, it will significantly impact the way languages are taught and learned. Areas of foreign language methodology that will become more important with AI Human interaction and cultural immersion: AI cannot replace the human element in language learning, such as the ability to provide personalized feedback and engage in meaningful interactions with learners. AI systems can, however, be used to create virtual environments that simulate real-world interactions, providing learners with opportunities to practice their language skills in immersive environments. Dynamic assessment and personalized instruction: AI can be used to assess learners' individual needs and strengths, tailoring instruction to their specific levels and learning styles. This personalized approach can help learners to progress more quickly and effectively. Real-time feedback and correction: AI systems can provide immediate feedback on learners' language production, enabling them to identify and correct their mistakes. This real-time feedback can help learners to develop their language skills more rapidly. Adaptive learning: AI can be used to create adaptive learning systems that adjust to learners' progress, providing them with the most challenging and appropriate material for their level of proficiency. This adaptive approach can help learners to reach their full potential.
Areas of foreign language methodology that will become less important with AI Traditional classroom teaching: AI systems can automate many of the tasks that teachers traditionally perform, such as providing grammar rules, translating text, and correcting quizzes. This automation could free up teachers to focus on more personalized and creative teaching methods. Mechanical drills and rote memorization: AI can be used to create more engaging and interactive language learning exercises, such as role-playing games and virtual simulations. This increased engagement can help learners to retain information more effectively. Repetitive practice: AI can be used to provide learners with personalized feedback and correction on their language production, reducing the need for repetitive practice. This can free up learners to focus on more productive and engaging language learning activities.
Overall, the advent of AI is likely to revolutionize foreign language methodology. AI systems can be used to automate many of the tasks that teachers traditionally perform, provide learners with personalized feedback and correction, and create more engaging and interactive language learning experiences. As AI systems become more sophisticated, they will continue to play an increasingly important role in foreign language education.
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For both ChatGPT and Bard, the areas of adaptive learning strategies, personalised instruction, real-time feedback and correction, and dynamic and continuous assessment will become increasingly important with the advent of artificial intelligence.
ChatGPT also sees these areas as gaining in importance due to AI: data-driven instruction, task-based language teaching, and multimodal learning experiences.
For Bard, these areas will become more important: human interaction and cultural immersion, and dynamic assessment and personalised instruction.
Among the areas mentioned by both AIs, adaptive learning strategies and dynamic and continuous assessment are certainly the most important ones. It is no coincidence that personalisation, which also means individualisation, was mentioned repeatedly by both AIs, especially when such chatbots are used as active learning partners for students.
Assessment, at the other end of the learning continuum, will certainly change more than ever before, with forms of testing such as presentations, homewritten essays and, at university level, term papers and bachelor and master theses becoming obsolete as they can already be almost entirely prepared by AI.
For both AIs, the following areas will, not surprisingly, be less emphasised: traditional classroom teaching and rote memorisation.
ChatGPT adds static teaching materials and a uniform pace of teaching. Bardt, on the other hand, considers that repetitive practice will be negligible in the future.
While traditional classroom teaching has been declining in importance for some time, with task-based learning becoming more prevalent, this trend will continue and accelerate now that teachers and students have access to AI chatbots. This assessment is based not only on the methodological possibilities offered by AI, but also on motivational aspects: students may be more open to interacting with AI than to listening to some teachers’ monologues.
3 Conclusions
The interview presented and analysed in this article has yielded significant results. These results will now be presented, with some limitations taken into consideration.
Both AI systems have a tendency to repeat certain concepts, such as the personalisation of learning, in different contexts. While this repetition can reinforce key ideas, it also limits the diversity of perspectives presented.
Moreover, the AI-generated answers demonstrate a theoretical nature, lacking concrete examples. It should be noted that the AIs were not explicitly requested to provide examples. However, a thorough reflection on these responses will allow for valuable insights to enhance understanding of the topic.
At times, the responses provided by the two AIs are not exclusively related to foreign language teaching, but rather comprise a wider range of topics. While this may somewhat diminish the validity of the results, it also highlights the relevance of several points discussed for other subjects taught in schools and universities.
It is important to note that the estimations and analyses presented here should not be the only source of information. Teachers should supplement these insights with their own expertise, pedagogical approaches, and additional resources. This interview with ChatGPT and Bard can, however, provide teachers with supplementary insights into the matter and complement their own ideas, as well as ideas presented by human experts in the respective fields.
This interview documents the current state of the art displayed by AIs. A comparison between the present state of the art and that of AI in the future will be worthwhile. It is expected that future AI will be even more advanced and better informed than they are now.
A functional approach to identifying the key aspects of foreign language methodology in the era of AI resides in comparing the common answers generated by two relevant AI systems, as we have done in our analysis. These aspects are listed below:
Areas | Points Mentioned by ChatGPT and Bard |
AI as a paradigm shift in foreign language teaching and methodology | Personalisation Immersive language exposure |
Areas most affected by AI | Personalisation Interaction |
The role of the language teacher
| Positive aspects: Negative aspects: Ethical aspects Potential overemphasis on technology Depersonalisation of education Possible replacement of teachers by AI
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The language teacher as the authority in the classroom
| Importance of teachers' expertise and the human element in the learning process Complementary nature of AI and the teacher |
Potential benefits for lesson preparation
| Personalised content recommendations Adaptive learning platforms |
The role of the language student | Adaptive learning experiences |
AI as a learning partner for students
| Real-time language practice Conversational language learning Immediate correction |
The importance of teaching and learning foreign languages in the future | The human element in communication and language learning |
The Impact of AI on Student Assessment
| Difficulties in Assessing Student Performance |
The Impact of AI on Foreign Language Methodology | Adaptive learning strategies Dynamic and continuous assessment |
Table 1: Key Aspects of AI in Foreign Language Teaching
Although ChatGPT's and Bard's answers are informative and insightful, it is important to acknowledge their limitations. Both AIs operate within their own matrix, but demonstrate impressive depth in their handling of interview questions. They address an informed audience rather than a novice audience. Therefore, instructors may find the information provided by these AIs to be a valuable supplement to their own knowledge and experience.
The two AIs interviewed take a broad view of language teaching and offer a varied analysis. Their assessments may overlap with or go beyond those of human experts. Their judgements can be seen as relevant and realistic, even if they sometimes seem a little idealistic. Finally, this interview with ChatGPT and Bard has shown that AI systems can be a valuable partner to language instructors once they turn to them with questions of a theoretical or practical nature.
References
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Author:
Dr Thomas Tinnefeld
Full Professor of Applied Languages
Saarland University of Applied Sciences
Business School
14, Waldhausweg
66123 Saarbrücken
Germany
Email: thomas.tinnefeld@htwsaar.de
________________________
(1) The Wikipedia articles about “ChatGPT” (2023) and “Bard (2023a)” provide topical information about these two chatbots.
(2) In this context, the guidelines that Miao & Holmes (2023: 23) list for individual users, including “individual teachers, researchers and learners in formal educational institutions or those participating in non-formal programmes of study” provide useful direction.
