Or Tales of a Marginally Successful Polyglot
A few years ago, I had a huge writing project that prompted me to learn some Irish Gaelic. I loved the language, but it was so complex. Since I was learning it on my own long before the days of AI tools, I am sure that there were fundamentals I missed out on, and I know for a fact there are many words I do not pronounce correctly at all. For that project, it was all about me connecting with my audience.
In corporate and professional education, language learning is less about grammar charts and more about connection: closing deals, supporting customers, or building inclusive teams.
AI is helping organizations make that happen at scale:
- Just-in-time translation and subtitling tools reduce friction in global collaboration.
- Custom chat tutors can model company-specific terminology or customer scenarios.
- Adaptive microlearning delivers five-minute refreshers before client meetings.
Apple Education (1) highlights how multilingual AI assistants can “extend access to global opportunities,” and recent research in Language Learning & Technology shows AI chatbots boosting pronunciation accuracy for adult learners. Yet both sources stress the same caveat: human context still matters. Tone, empathy, and cultural nuance remain stubbornly human domains.
For learning leaders, the opportunity lies in integration, not automation. Pair AI modules with live coaching, peer conversation, or intercultural workshops. Use data from AI interactions to identify skill gaps, then design targeted follow-ups.
Corporate education succeeds when technology disappears behind human improvement. The goal isn’t fluency in a language; it’s fluency in understanding one another.
How are you, or your organization, using AI to support multilingual collaboration?
(1) Apple Education. (2024). AI in education: Enhancing language learning through intelligent technology. Apple Inc https://education.apple.com/story/250014607
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