How to Use AI for Language Learning

Do we still need teachers?

Scroll down to get right to the AI language learning tips. But first, what will AI do to teachers?

I'm sure everyone knows the conclusion for the following syllogism: We don't need to pay for what we can learn online. We can learn everything online. 

ChatGPT and other large language models (LLMs) also know the answer. That worries some more than others. Especially those of us who talk and research for a living. The combination of AI and robotics will eliminate, alter, and create new jobs for everyone, but as an online English teacher and writer, these changes are happening right now.

I've been using ChatGPT and testing AI language learning aids like Langotalk, TutorLily, LangAI, and Duolingo Max to 1. Improve my Spanish, and 2. Figure out a teacher's role in a world of AI. 

The more I use AI, the less worried I am that it will replace me. It's faster at coming up with grammar explanations, it can generate 10 context sentences by the time I come up with one, it does a better job writing some dialects, creates impressive lesson plans, it isn't bothered by a four-year-old student screaming into their headset, it doesn't need bathroom breaks, food, water, sleep, or beer. And best of all, it's free. 

But it won't replace me. Why? Marketing. 

Bill Hicks was fantastic. Look, I'd love to live in a world where value is driven by quality and merit, but we don't. Artists and intellectuals who make a living without thinking about marketing strategies are very lucky. Are they any better? No. Happier? Doesn't seem so. Fell into the right milieu? Definitely.

The rest of us must think about ways to make and save money. That's why I've never paid for an online teacher. I do everything I can to study languages for free, which might sound hypocritical from someone who earns a living teaching English. 

But I don't fit the right market. I have time to find material that matches my learning style, I'm self-motivated, I have friends who speak the languages I want to learn, I don't need it for a specific job or academic-related reasons, and I’m income challenged. 

Some online English teachers earn $100 an hour, while others make $5. The higher-paid teacher isn't necessarily better, but they identified a niche market, took risks on advertising, and designed courses with sales strategies in mind. AI won't replace people who figure out how to market their services. In fact, it can help people sell better. 

There's no doubt a qualified and experienced human teacher is better than AI. I'd pay for an online language tutor if I didn’t work as one. It would be more fun, dynamic, and efficient. However, by learning other languages with free to low-cost AI, podcasts, videos, and textbooks, I can learn a language while figuring out how to teach my students more efficiently. 

In other words, the following guide is not just for people learning languages but for people teaching them. 

How to study?

Before diving into specific LLM language learning prompts, you need to know how to study (which ChatGPT can explain to you, BTW). 

The 3 most rigorously studied study methods are 1. Spaced repetition 2. Retrieval practice 3. Interleaved practice. 

Spaced repetition: Spaced repetition is a technique where you review the material at increasing intervals over time. Instead of cramming, you revisit the material at strategically spaced intervals, which helps reinforce memory and improve long-term retention. The space between intervals varies, but you should wait long enough to almost forget the material and then practice again. One study had students learning Spanish. Each group had eight hours to study. Group 1 studied for eight hours in one day, whereas the second group studied 4 hours one day and another 4 hours one month after. They tested the groups 8 YEARS LATER. No, that was not a typo. The second group did 250% better! 

Interleaved Practice: Interleaved practice involves mixing different problems or subjects during study sessions. Rather than focusing on one topic intensely before moving on to the next, students alternate between different subjects or types of problems. For example, those who want to master the 20-key jumps and mix in the 5-key jumps or 10-key jumps will likely perform better than those who only practiced the 20-key jumps even though they had less practice with it. The same goes for math-related subjects and most disciplines. 

Retrieval Practice: Retrieval practice involves actively recalling information from memory rather than simply rereading or reviewing it. It can be done through various methods, such as self-quizzing or answering questions about the material. This method works best if you test yourself even before you know the material. This is linked to the generation effect and the hypercorrection effect. When students actively produce information during the learning process, they are more likely to remember it compared to passively receiving the same information. And if you get something wrong and then learn the correct answer, you're more likely to remember it than if you were just told the answer in the first place. *This should also serve as a warning about the detrimental effect LLMs can have on your learning if you misuse them. 

Now, let’s get into the specifics. 

I tested the prompts suggested in "Master a New Language with ChatGPT: Your Ultimate Language Learning Companion" and kept a list of the ones I found most effective. Remember that ChatGPT and other LLMs that focus on language learning still make mistakes, especially when you ask them to make test questions. That’s another reason why it’s best to have a human teacher who can spot mistakes.

Prompts for Grammar Guidance

1. I want you to act as a grammar guide. Can you explain [what grammar rule or concept you're struggling with] and provide instructions on [how to apply the rule or concept]? Can you also give me examples of [how the rule or concept works in practice]?

2. How do you use [grammatical rule] in [target language]?

3. Provide me with a list of common grammar mistakes to avoid when speaking/writing in [target language].

Prompts for Vocabulary Building 

1. Can you explain the difference in meaning between [word1] and [word2] using [number] specific examples?

2. Help me understand the meaning of [idiomatic expression] in [target language].

3. Generate a [target language] vocabulary quiz.

4. Give me [number] synonyms and antonyms for [word] in [target language].

5. Provide me with a list of [number] common expressions in [target language] that I can use in everyday conversation.

6. Help me expand my vocabulary in [target language] by suggesting [number] words related to [topic].

Prompts for Practice Conversations

1. Give me questions to ask in [target language] to practice [speaking/listening] skills.

2. Help me practice my [speaking/listening] skills in [target language] by having a conversation about [topic].

3. I want you to act as a language partner and ask me questions in [target language] about [topic].

4. Can you give me some example questions and answers for a job interview in [target language]?

Prompts to Get Translation Assistance

1. What is the [target language] equivalent of [word/phrase/sentence]?

2. Can you help me translate this [document/email/letter] to [target language]?

3. I want you to act as a language translator and help me understand [word/phrase/sentence] in [source language].

Prompts for Checking Writing Correctness

1. Give me feedback on my [essay/paragraph/story] written in [target language]. [paste it here]

2. Develop a writing exercise to practice [vocabulary/grammar/writing skills] in [target language].

3. Provide me with a list of [number] transition words and phrases that I can use to make my writing more cohesive in [target language].

4. Check my [sentence] written in [target language] for grammar and spelling mistakes. [paste your sentence here]

5. I want you to act as an editor and help me improve my [target language] writing by pointing out errors and suggesting corrections.

Prompts for Playing Language Learning Games

1. Let's play a game of 'Word Association.' I'll give you a word in [target language], and you have to give me the first word that comes to your mind. We'll take turns until we can't think of any more related words.

2. Let's play 'Language Trivia' in [target language]. I'll ask you questions related to grammar, vocabulary, culture, and history of [target language], and you have to guess the answers. We can keep score and compete to see who gets more answers right.

Prompts to Get Cultural Knowledge

1. Explain a cultural tradition/custom in [target language].

2. List [number] cultural norms in [target language].

3. Provide me [number] idioms or expressions that reflect [target language] culture.

4. Describe a typical [food/holiday/festival] celebrated in [target language].

5. I want you to act as a tour guide and give me a brief history of [place/monument] in [target language].

6. Recommend [number] books/movies/shows that can help me learn more about [target language] culture.

7. Suggest [number] ways to immerse me in [target language] culture without travelling to [country/region].

8. SUBSCRIBE TO BORNWITHOUTBORDERS.SUBSTACK.COM 

Prompts for Test Preparation

1. Create a mock [language proficiency] test in [target language].

2. List [number] commonly asked questions in [language proficiency] tests in [target language].

3. Help me prepare for [language proficiency] test in [target language] by giving me sample questions and answers.

4. Provide me with a list of online resources to help me prepare for the [language proficiency] test in [target language].

Prompts to help you memorize material

1. Generate a description of [word of phrase] using visual metaphors.

2. Write a poem using the words [the words you want to memorize].

3. Generate a mnemonic to remember [grammar rule, vocabulary, or expression].

4. Create a story using the words [the words you want to memorize].

At this point, you might be thinking, "I don't have time to deal with all these memory prompts. I just want to open an app and follow the procedure."

Well, for that, there's Duolingo Max… kind of. It has the loveable characters, notifications, clean interface, and addictive quality of Duolingo, but with the adaptability and explanations of GPT-4. But it's $39.99/month or $19.99 if you get the yearly plan.

Another competitor is Langotalk, but they don't have an app, just a website, which glitches out sometimes. They have various characters, but all the voices are robotic. Langotalk also has an addictive Duolingo quality because you can level up in the conversations. It's divided into categories — Tutor, question wiz, grammar drills, reading practice, and world explorer. They also allow you to save words to practice later, which I wished Duolingo had. Still, the price, €19.99 or €79.99, is pretty steep for something you can almost replicate for free.

So, what is worth it? 

The app I use the most now is Tutor Lily. Like ChatGPT, it can understand all the prompts in this article, but unlike ChatGPT, it immediately highlights your mistakes and gives grammar explanations (if you choose to expand) while Tutor Lily responds. The voice is robotic, and you can only send short messages, but it's easier to use than ChatGPT if you want to learn from your mistakes during a conversation. 

My favourite way to learn with Tutor Lily is to use the following prompt:

I want to learn [vocabulary, phrases, grammar rules] throughout our conversations over the next few days. I will send you a list of the vocabulary, phrases, and grammar rules, and I want you to use them throughout our conversation. I might also add the dialect or tone I want to practice here. 

If Tutor Lily uses words I don't know, I save them in one of my flashcard collections on quizlet.com to utilize spaced repetition. 

By the time you read this, several more AI language-learning apps might be out there. However, my prompts and study tips will remain relevant and valuable — just like teachers. We learn a language to communicate and communicate to connect. For the best language learning experience, find a teacher you connect with. 

This article came from many hours of testing various prompts and researching AI language learning platforms. Please, consider showing your support.

Let me know if you have any questions in the comments.