AI and Machine Learning

English is an official language in 67 countries so there’s no surprise that this is a very common language among professionals from different industries. Many companies expect their employees to have strong English skills, and if you want to land a job at a successful company, you should make sure that you know English at a decent level. Language barriers are among the main challenges of outsourcing so English skills become increasingly important for many professionals from all over the world as the popularity of outsourcing grows.

Learning a new language is a complex process. Fortunately, modern students and professionals can take advantage of various technological advancements. Thanks to the internet, everyone can learn a new language remotely. Students who learn foreign languages can use the best essay writing sites and choose a reliable custom writing company to get help with grammar and style.

Of course, nobody can actually learn English for you. However, some apps can offer a lot of help. Although you may still need a lot of language practice with native speakers and work with tutors to improve your style and word usage, you can also get valuable assistance from the software. Thanks to artificial intelligence and machine learning, the capabilities of modern software expand rapidly. In this article, we will take a closer look at AI and machine learning, as well as the applications of these technologies in language learning.

AI is a very complex concept so, first of all, let’s figure out what AI is and what it isn’t.

What AI Is
Artificial intelligence is a term that refers to a variety of solutions used in different areas. Moreover, the term AI may refer to different technologies. For instance, self-driving cars utilize the AI-based technology called computer vision, social media platforms use AI-powered predictive analytics, and voice assistants use voice processing, which is another AI-related discipline.

It’s easier to understand what AI is if you understand the concept of machine learning. Machine learning is based on feeding tons of data to algorithms so that the algorithms can learn from patterns in the data and create predictive models of future events. For example, this approach helps self-driving cars understand where they should make a turn. Thanks to machine learning, it becomes possible to use computers for many tasks that used to take a lot of time and effort when performed manually.

When reading articles about AI, you may see many illustrations with human-like robots. Many people think AI has something to do with recreating the human brain in a digital way, but it’s more about problem-solving. Computers can solve simple problems more efficiently than humans because they can process a lot of data much faster. Machines still lag behind when it comes to creativity, but tasks that require complex computations or analyzing data make machines stand out.

AI in Language Learning
One of the main reasons why AI is so popular is that it creates countless opportunities for personalization. This feature of AI has been appreciated in various areas, including education. Thanks to AI, educators can provide personalized learning experiences and make the learning process more efficient, adapting the pace of learning or the complexity of tasks to a particular student’s capabilities and objectives. AI-based solutions can collect data about different students’ progress and abilities and provide educators with many valuable insights.

Another great advantage of AI for language learning is the opportunity to get instant feedback. You should be able to evaluate your progress when learning a new language, and you can do it by taking tests. However, waiting for test results can be exhausting. If you receive the results of a test from your teacher or tutor in a week after taking it, you may already forget why you’ve made some mistakes.

AI-based language learning platforms can evaluate tests automatically and provide you with results immediately, explaining your mistakes, and making suggestions on how you can avoid these mistakes in the future. A great thing about such an approach is that students can evaluate their skills without being afraid of failing. AI won’t criticize you for your mistakes, and it won’t compare you to other people in the class.

AI also improves online learning by making it more flexible and personalized. Thanks to the internet, you can learn English from anywhere in the world, while AI enables you to set your own goals, learn at your own pace, and follow a personalized curriculum. All people learn differently. For example, some people only learn English online, while others may combine online and offline learning. It’s easier for some people to learn English through reading and writing, while others may prefer gamification or quizzes. AI-powered learning platforms can adapt the learning process to every learner’s preferences and capabilities.

Applications of AI in Language Learning
- Machine translation
Machine translation has never been better than now, and the reason why it has improved significantly is the use of machine learning. Although computers are still bad at understanding the context and their translation is still inferior to that done by a professional human translator, machine translation can be very helpful, and its results may only need some minor edits.

Machine translation can be very useful for language learning, as learners can detect errors and inconsistencies in the translated text and improve their understanding of the language along with the algorithm. Machine learning enables translation software to constantly improve, delivering more precise translations every time.

- Chatbots
Chatbots are nothing new, but they used to be almost useless before the invention of machine learning. Modern AI-powered chatbots can trick you into thinking that you’re talking to a real person. Thanks to chatbot conversational AI you can improve your English communication skills even if you don’t know any native speakers. However, the best thing about chatbots is that they can provide personalized assistance. They can answer your questions about grammar or spelling, and they can also provide you with tips on how to improve your skills.

- Customized textbooks
Given that people learn at a different speed, using the same textbooks for everyone certainly isn’t the best approach. AI can analyze the data on a specific user’s progress and adapt learning materials to their skills. Personalized textbooks can be useful not only for students but also for teachers, as well. Teachers can use such solutions to come up with an educational program that will be optimal for a specific school or course.

Wrapping Up
Artificial intelligence and machine learning have proven to be extremely useful in many areas, and language learning is no exception. Thanks to AI, people can learn English at a comfortable pace and receive a personalized learning experience. Personalized learning materials enable students to focus on their most problematic areas, while chatbots can provide timely assistance and respond to learners’ quotations in real-time. Artificial intelligence is a technology that evolves at a rapid pace so we’re definitely going to see more and more applications of AI in the future.

About the author:
Anna is a specialist in different types of writing. She graduated from the Interpreters Department, but creative writing became her favorite type of work. Now she improves her skills while working as a specialist for the custom writing company to help everybody in it. Also, working with the best essay writing sites on the Web for this purpose, she also has a lot of training and offers assistance and basic writing tips for students all over the world.