Why Technology and Human Touch Must Coexist in Language Learning

Thanks to technology, language learning has become more accessible and dynamic than ever. So much so that if you decide to learn a new language right now, you need only install an app and get started, reducing the effort to just a few clicks.

Add to this equation emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and immersive experiences delivered through virtual reality, and you may feel human intervention has been all but eliminated from the process. Even with apps that humanize AI content and language material, there exists a gap that can only be bridged with the human touch.

However, the reality is that while technology has made learning a new language easier, it must work hand in hand with humans to deliver effective and culturally sound learning experiences. We will discuss this in detail, but let’s start by understanding the role of technology in language learning.

Graziana Filomeno and Rocco Dabellonio from LearnAmo have published a fascinating article on how to use ChatGPT—and other AI tools—to learn a new language. If you’re curious about combining language learning with AI, it’s definitely worth a read.

How Technology Empowers Language Learning

We have all witnessed or experienced how technology can aid and even encourage people to learn languages. According to a study published in the Journal of Education and Learning, tech-aided language education outperforms traditional methods.

With apps like Duolingo empowering people to learn foreign languages at their convenience, technology is undoubtedly a powerful enabler in language learning. Moreover, the modern technological landscape combined with emerging technologies is redefining language education by making it more efficient, personalized, and flexible.

That said, here are some of the ways technologies can enable language learning:

• Gamification and Motivation: Most language education apps have successfully gamified their experiences to boost user engagement. They use features like badges, leaderboards, and daily challenges to encourage consistent practice, known to elevate customer retention levels.
• Immersive Experiences: Many language learning apps have started delivering immersive experiences with virtual and augmented reality to simulate real-life scenarios, such as ordering food in a restaurant or navigating a foreign city. This approach helps learners gain confidence in using the language in authentic contexts.
• Social and Collaborative Learning: Even without an app-based environment, platforms like YouTube and TikTok connect learners with native speakers, peers, and tutors, transforming into a cultural exchange.
• Personalized Learning Journeys: AI-powered apps like Babbel and Duolingo let learners focus on their unique strengths and weaknesses, and adapt lessons in real-time. As a result, they are empowered to chart out their learning journey. 

Why is Human Touch Necessary for Language Learning?

Now that we have explored the role of technology in language education, let us examine the importance of integrating the human touch into the experience. While technology can help you personalize and accelerate learning, having human elements in the process is inevitable, because of the following factors:

1. Emotional Connection and Motivation

Regardless of how efficient apps and platforms are, getting proficient in a language requires you to feel supported and motivated. While apps do this by giving you small wins so you feel consistently encouraged, they are no replacement for a human teacher. Humans — as teachers and peers — can hold you accountable for your learning journey, provide responsive feedback, and validate your progress to boost your confidence.

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1. Cultural and Contextual Nuance

Learning a language colloquially requires human interactions simply because humans have the ability to bring idioms, humor, and emotions naturally into conversations. These are important aspects of a language that you may miss out on if you exclusively rely on technology for language education.

For example, a native speaker or teacher will likely include phrases that are significant to local customs and culture while speaking a language, which technology-produced language can often miss.

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1. Rich and Dynamic Interaction

Real-life conversations often rely on social settings, emotional cues, and contextual information to be engaging and correct. More often than not, certain statements, even if technically correct, can be incorrect in a specific setting. Human integration in language learning bridges this gap effectively by including facial expressions, body language, and tonality to make your conversations more natural and fluent. A human instruction or involvement can ensure that your language proficiency is not only technical but is also more dynamic.

Integration of Tech and Human Guidance

While most learners may lean towards tech-based learning for convenience or prefer a human instructor for contextual nuance, the ideal solution offers the best of both worlds. Here are some of how language learning processes can be enriched by combining tech and human guidance:

1. Hybrid Learning Models

Hybrid learning models that combine AI-driven lessons with human coaching are increasingly popular in language education. In this learning model, learners can engage with digital tools and human instructors, known to be more effective and engaging than even traditional face-to-face lessons. 

According to a study published in The Modern Language Journal, students in hybrid environments can improve their language skills substantially more than when only one of the methods is used. This approach leverages the strengths of technology for flexibility and personalized practice, and human guidance for more nuanced feedback and motivation.

What to do: 

• Even if you use an app or platform for learning a new language, ensure that you schedule regular live sessions with a human instructor to reinforce what you have learned online. 
• Leverage digital dashboards provided by popular language learning apps and platforms to track your progress and identify the areas where you need human support. Use app-based exercises and instructor-led discussions to address any gaps. Financial tools in education, like digital dashboards and planning templates, are equally important to language learners and organizations alike. Whether you’re budgeting for an instructor-led course or tracking tech-based learning expenses, using tools like an expense report template can help visualize and control costs efficiently. For language training programs in corporate or academic settings, such templates ensure that every rupee or dollar spent on learning translates into measurable outcomes.
  

1. Contextualized Content

Did you know that over 80% of the organizations utilize a combination of human and tech-enabled methods for language training, because they require human oversight for contextual accuracy?

As we established earlier, human instructors are required for adding cultural context and nuance to your tech-generated content, which may be accurate in terms of foundational grammar and vocabulary. Even with AI’s emergence today, where many learners depend on it for translation, a human review of the output is required.

What to do:

• Participate in live discussions hosted by native speakers to further your learning and complement your tech-aided lessons.
• Seek feedback on using the language to fit real-life contexts, going beyond grammar and covering tone and appropriateness.
• Engage in role-playing scenarios with human instructors to understand language use in specific social settings and navigate cultural nuance.
  

1. Collaborative Practices

While technology-based learning environments facilitate plenty of practice and repetition so learners can develop conversational fluency in the language, nothing can replace meaningful interactions. Within hybrid learning models, learners can use online resources for learning and apply those skills in group sessions or one-to-one live conversations. 

Language learning environments that combine human and AI tutoring can boost engagement among students and deliver better lesson completion rates compared to AI-only or tech-based approaches.

What to do:

• Utilize AI chatbots or similar applications for daily lessons and practice; however, schedule sessions with peers to have real conversations.
• Ask instructors to organize group sessions based on your progress level in digital modules and lesson plans.

Concluding Remarks

The bottom line is that the most powerful language learning environments out there are those that combine the efficiency and accessibility offered by technology with the irreplaceable value and nuance that comes with human guidance. Implementing an approach that integrates both of these approaches will help provide real-time feedback and emotional support to learners. Not only this, you can also leverage this to maximize engagement and quality of outcomes in language learning environments.