Creative ways to use AI to help improve your language skills
Steve Keating
No doubt you will have considered some of the pros and cons of AI. Let’s focus on some of the advantages it can bring to your learning process.
Many of my students want to widen their vocabulary, but find it difficult to remember the words they have come across. One of my students has come up with some excellent ways of using AI.
First, make a list of the words you want to add to your vocabulary. Then, either write a sentence with each one of these words, or ask your AI tool to write the sentences for you. Obviously, it’s faster to ask AI. However, if you have time, write the sentences yourself, as it can be a useful part of the learning process. You can also get AI to translate the words into your first language.
Now, you can ask AI to produce some exercises for you to practise your new words. It may ask you to produce synonyms or opposites. Alternatively, it may design a gap-fill exercise. If you are a visual learner, it can be particularly helpful to ask AI to produce a picture that will help you to remember each word.
We often hear about the potential AI has to cause people to lose their jobs. Indeed, some have even suggested language teachers may become obsolete. Despite being biased in favour of educators, I don’t believe teachers have nothing to offer. Rather, it is beneficial for us as teachers to use AI cleverly and to provide things to our learners that AI can’t. If we are doing our job well, we can advise our learners on the subtleties of the language, and how small changes in the way learners express things can lead to big changes in how their words are received. AI struggles to do this, at least at the moment!
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AI is everywhere—and it’s not just for tech experts. If you're learning a language, it can be a game-changer. Instead of debating the pros and cons, let’s dive into the exciting ways AI can actually help you learn faster, stay motivated, and make language practice more fun and personal. Here are some creative, practical ideas to get you started.