photo by Brett Jordan
Recent advancements in artificial intelligence have made it easier for students to learn languages independently like never before. While AI programs like Chat GPT have limits, there’s no denying their power. Believe it or not, Chat GPT is only a few steps away from being able to function as a personal tutor.
Right now, students can use Chat GPT in many ways to help them learn English. In this post, I identify several ways students can utilize this resource for instruction, clarification, and practice. Keep in mind that you can use all of these strategies individually or in combination because Chat GPT remembers all previous questions and its responses within one chat session.
Create and Format Lists of Vocabulary with Translations, Definitions, Examples, or Notes and Format for Use with Anki or Another Flashcard-Based Study Program
One of the most effective study methods for learning a language is the Pimsleur Method, which uses spaced repetition to present study materials in a way that mimics the way that children acquire language naturally. The free program Anki allows students to create decks of flashcards from any desired study material and then uses the Pimsleur Method to help students learn the flashcards’ contents. Anki can integrate video, audio, and images into flashcards, not just text. While students can download hundreds of pre-made decks of flashcards for studying English and other languages, they can also make their own decks with content they want to study.
This is where Chat GPT comes in. Let’s say you are a student learning English, and you come across a news article or reading text from a lesson that has a lot of vocabulary words that are new to you. You can ask Chat GPT to define the words, provide translations, provide example sentences, and then format the words as a list of vocabulary terms separated from their definitions (or examples, translations, etc.) by a comma. The formatted list that Chat GPT produces can then be uploaded directly to Anki to create a new study deck.
“Identify all the difficult vocabulary words in this paragraph.”
“Define the words, and provide them as a list with the word first and then the definition/translation, and divide them by a comma.”
“Provide a list of words and their definitions related to the same topic as this paragraph, and divide the words and definitions using a comma.”
Explain the Grammar and/or Meaning of a Sentence
If you come across an English sentence that uses an unfamiliar structure or contains grammar you have never seen, you can ask Chat GPT to explain the sentence’s grammar and meaning.
Key Phrases for this Chat GPT Study Method
“Explain the meaning and grammar of the following sentence:”
“Tell me what verb tenses are used in this sentence:”
“What kinds of phrases are inside this sentence:”
Explain the Meaning of an Unknown Word and Provide Examples of Usage
If you run into a new English word, you can ask Chat GPT to define the word and provide other example sentences.
Key Phrases for this Chat GPT Study Method
“What does the word blah blah mean in English?”
“Explain the different usages of the word blah blah in English.”
“Give me several example sentences that use the word blah blah.”
Explain an Unknown Verb Tense and How It’s Used
If you learn about a previously unknown verb tense in English, you can ask Chat GPT to explain how the tense is formed and used.
Key Phrases for this Chat GPT Study Method
“Explain the __________ tense in English.”
“Give me several example sentences that use the __________ tense in English.”
“How is the __________ tense used differently from the __________ tense in English?”
Chat with Chat GPT in English or Create Dialogues to Use for Reading/Speaking Practice
If you want to practice writing/speaking about a certain topic, ask Chat GPT to respond to your English sentences as a human would. Or, ask Chat GPT to write complete dialogues with two or more characters. The more specific your request, the more useful the dialogue will be for your practice. The possibilities are nearly limitless. The program can even give you tips on your use of English if you ask it too!
Key Phrases for this Chat GPT Study Method
“Create a dialogue between two characters at the park talking about the weather in English.”
“Imagine you are a bank employee. I am a customer. We are having a conversation about a deposit. You will say one sentence and wait for my response.”
“Write a similar dialogue, but this time use several idioms.”
As you can see, Chat GPT is already capable of providing students with a wide variety of study materials, practice materials, and even accurate feedback. I’ve only discussed a few of the program’s possible applications for language learning. Almost unbelievably, it can also write computer codes accurately and pass university exams with surprisingly high scores. While the program has some limits, I think its current value for students can’t be overstated. In a matter of seconds, students can use the software to generate learning materials comparable to expensive textbooks, curricula, lessons, and even experiences with native speakers.
If you're interested in using the program for learning English, another language, or simply out of curiosity about what it can do, sign up and give it a go!
Do you agree that students should be learning this as soon as reasonably possible? It's a game changer. Writing will never be the same. I think teachers will resist it by avoiding take-home essays and opting for in-class essay writing etc.
ReplyDeleteBut I think the cat is out of the bag and that we should start teaching students how to use it properly pretty soon. That is, you still need to learn about history for example, but come essay time, students should be taught how to fashion the approrpiate instructions to write the history essay. Then they fact check and edit heavily.
I do agree. The cat is definitely out of the bag, and the longer we deny that reality, the longer students will have to adapt to the new technology without our guidance. I still think students need to learn how to write from scratch. It's never good to rely entirely on a single program to do your work for you. They also need to learn how to use AI effectively and efficiently, as you said.
Delete