In 2020, 30 million people tried to learn a new language using a language learning platform. The best language learning applications focus on your learning patterns. Hence, it is slowly incorporating Artificial Intelligence into the platform. AI can be a great way to bridge the gap between personalized tutoring sessions and universal teaching pedagogy. Firstly, like a great teacher, AI systems know the material well. Secondly, it keeps the user engaged, and lastly, it analyzes what the user knows and what he/she does not know.
The emphasis on bilingual and multilingual education has increased several folds in the last decade. Digital language learning generates $6 billion in revenue, and that number is projected to rise to $8.7 billion by 2025. AI is adding value to every aspect of the education industry. Let’s explore how learning platforms are leveraging AI to improve user experience.
Course Improvement with ML & NLP
Machine Learning (ML) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) assist content developers in auditing and improving the course. It can range from analyzing the vocabulary and grammar content of the particular language lesson to researching for scripts from stories, podcasts, or audio lessons. Moreover, the technology helps the users hit a target level of proficiency be it, beginner, intermediate or advanced.
You can also read How Does Education Sector Benefit From AI?
User Engagement
A language learning app uses AI in making the course more engaging. Those who have used a popular language app know that it has different types of speeches for its varied characters. Artificial Intelligence techniques pick up the types of speeches. Furthermore, the application selects a push notification message from hundreds of possible messages. The precise timing of the notification urges the user to click on the app.
Personalizing the Learning Experience
“Proximal Development” is a concept in developmental psychology. What it means is that whenever a person learns an ability or new skill, the brain is divided into three levels of learning. In the first part, the brain stores easy to learn things, in this stage the learner does not need any external assistance. The second and outer sphere represents the proximal development zone, a learner may be able to grasp a concept but he/she would take more time and effort. In other words, this level is a notch higher than the first one. Beyond this sphere, there is a third sphere in which the brain just gives up because the content is too hard to comprehend. Evidently, a learner is motivated when their brain is in a proximal development zone.
This concept is implemented in a popular language-learning app that enhances the learning experience. AI systems analyze hundreds of translations and cram them into a lesson. The platforms are fiercely competitive developing lessons as per the zone of proximal development of the unique user. So as to give every user a personalized experience, they get lessons that are not too easy and not too hard for uniquely curated for them.
On the Whole
AI has touched every aspect of the education sector. Interestingly, language learners find that conversing in a new language is harder than reading or writing. Accordingly, platforms are focusing on different focus groups of language learners to understand their pain points in a better way. However, Artificial Intelligence has its limitations. One such limitation is that almost all languages use different slang yet we can’t expect AI systems to interpret slang as we humans do.
In the not too distant future, AI systems can be the primary source of learning a language. The extent to which AI platforms can personalize learning to different audiences has a huge scope of improvement. The researchers are in a continuous process to understand how the AI systems are behaving with new information.
Revti Vadjikar is a digital marketing associate who creates and distributes compelling stories about data science. She creates engaging blogs, case studies, visual and video content for US-based businesses operating in a variety of industries. She is an engineer who is passionate about reading non fiction stories
