AI for English Learning, is it really useful?

There is a lot of debate surrounding the hype around AI. Will AI completely change the world? Will my cousin lose his job in the next two years? Should I put “AI” next to my product description to secure VC funding? Some of these questions are fundamentally worrying, but as many experts have pointed out, AI will change things—just not in the way we are predicting.

However, this text is not an analysis of how AI will change society but rather how it will impact language learning. Specifically, how can AI change your language learning and English communication?

AI Apps for English Learning Probably Won’t Help

Maybe you expect me to give you five AI-powered apps that will revolutionize the way you speak English in three months. While that’s an attractive idea, and I’ve admittedly talked about it before, this advice isn’t about tools but rather about processes.

If I were to give you a list of five mobile applications for language learning, you might think it's useful.

You might even download one or two. Heck, you might even use them for a month. However, you’re most likely going to forget about them, and they will end up buried among the endless apps on your device, eventually getting deleted.

But AI as a tool is certainly different. You can now speak to ChatGPT to improve your English. True, but just like with the apps, you’ll eventually let it go, and the next time you speak to your foreign HR director, you’ll feel the same stress.

Why is motivation important?

I don’t dislike AI for language learning—not at all. What I dislike are shortcuts for learning. Proper communication in a language is achieved through specific practice, feedback, encouragement, motivation, and human interaction, facilitated by tools.

Have you ever wondered what the number one reason people stop learning a new language is? Take a guess. If you guessed “lack of tools,” you’re completely wrong. It’s motivation (Alizadeh, 2016).

There’s a lot of nuance in language learning, which is why personalization in teaching or coaching is crucial (where AI can be a useful tool). But one thing is very clear: Excellence in communication in a language like English will definitely not come from a conversation with AI. What’s more concerning is that the anxiety normally associated with language learning is absent with certain tools.

What’s wrong with that, you ask? Real-world scenarios are stressful, unpredictable, and involve humans who can be angry, joyful, or grumpy. Removing that from language learning will be a big surprise when you have to interact with the director of sales in English, who just had a fight with his wife, about why you missed the quota this month.

A Better Way to Use AI

There’s nothing better than a list. So here’s one:

• Replace bad tools with good AI tools.

If you’re using a translation tool like DeepL or Google Translate, try replacing that with English-English interactions with ChatGPT or Claude. Instead of translating a full message, try writing in English and see how ChatGPT corrects it. Over time, when you reach what I like to call the ultimate English level, you’ll start to dislike the AI's answers and change them yourself, creating your own style.

• Use AI apps, but keep the original tools.

This might sound contradictory to the previous step, but it’s not—I promise. AI apps (mostly chatbots) can help you practice vocabulary and maybe even learn some when used correctly. However, tools like videos, podcasts, and even books help cement the learning process. You’ll learn how real people interact in certain situations, get challenged, laugh, and be sad—all of which will help you advance your language skills naturally as our brains naturally love to do.

• Get a tutor who knows technology, including AI.

If they’re still using Skype, that’s a red flag. As a teacher, I might be biased, but nothing will help you achieve your goals and solve the motivation problem better than a tutor. Vocabulary apps are great, but when a tutor assigns you specific vocabulary, the pressure to learn changes. For example, at EnglishBoost, we combine AI technologies with the human touch. It may sound cliché, but it’s true. We use AI in our lessons, but only to the extent of helping you communicate better. We also use traditional tools that are effective, depending on your interests and learning style.

• Integrate AI in your life, just like you do with your phone.

I’d say that the best use case for AI tools is how we can integrate them into our lives to improve learning. For example, when I was trying to learn about capital markets for an upcoming submission, I didn’t ask the AI to write the assignment. That would have been useless for my learning. Instead, I found some useful material that I knew was accurate, gave it to the AI, and started asking it to help me understand different concepts. Similarly, if you’re reading a book in English, open ChatGPT on your phone, and ask it to explain certain topics simply. Ask it for synonyms or alternative ways to phrase a sentence. Be curious, and be human in your learning.

The Conclusion?

Until AI replaces us all, for now, it’s just a tool—a very useful tool for many of the things we do daily, including language learning and enhancing communication. However, just like any tool, you need more than just it to effectively learn.