When I was at University, I picked German back up, but it was not as easy as I had hoped. Later on in grad school, I tried Japanese. I can still count to 11, and that is about it. Even then, I knew there had to be a better way.
Universities are discovering that AI can extend immersion beyond scheduled class hours:
- 24/7 conversational practice. Students can simulate dialogue with a virtual partner or rehearse interviews in the target language.
- Context-aware feedback. AI tutors can explain grammar in English, then switch seamlessly into Spanish or Mandarin to model tone and phrasing.
- Adaptive writing assistance. Generative models can suggest alternate word choices, idioms, or cultural nuance, if guided responsibly.
A 2024 British Journal of Educational Technology (1) study found that AI-assisted writing tasks increased fluency and learner confidence, but also risked “over-automation”, students editing less critically when the machine appeared authoritative.
The Princeton Review (2) notes the same tension: AI lowers the barrier to practice but raises questions about authenticity, how much of a student’s progress is truly their own voice?
That’s where instructional design becomes crucial. We can use AI as a reflection tool rather than a replacement: have students critique an AI’s translation, or compare outputs from multiple systems to deepen cultural understanding.
AI isn’t replacing language professors; it’s expanding their toolkit. The new language lab is wherever learning happens, as long as educators anchor it in feedback, reflection, and ethics.
How are your institutions addressing AI use in language courses or assessment policies?
(1) British Educational Research Association (BERA). (2024). The impact of artificial intelligence on language learning and teaching. British Journal of Educational Technology, 55(3).
(2) Princeton Review. (2024). Language learning with AI: How artificial intelligence is changing education. The Princeton Review.
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