Elon Musk Could Replace Duolingo Using AI

Artificial intelligence is the future of language learning

As an aspiring language learner, I’ve come to a realization. Despite the many methods and resources available to learn a language, none of them can achieve true mastery. They all lack certain elements that force us to rely on multiple resources to achieve fluency.

The most critiqued product for learning a language is Duolingo, and in fact, it ought to be replaced with better technology that’s currently available.

Why Duolingo prevents mastery of a language

The problem with Duolingo is its focus on vocabulary. Duolingo fails to offer multiple learning methods, like interacting with phrases, sentences, images, and conversations. Duolingo also fails to implement real-world scenario usage of the language. Therefore, app users fail to learn grammar and word usage.

Whenever a user learns the different versions of “to have”, they don’t learn how to implement it in a sentence. Instead, they memorize the words and move on.

To master a language, the person learning must implement the language in day to day life. Polyglots use many different methods, like watching movies or listening to music or podcasts, writing in a journal, or speaking to natives.

Relying on Duolingo alone while learning will never allow the person to achieve fluency. Interaction with the language outside of the memorization of vocabulary is needed to achieve proficiency.

Which apps currently compete with Duolingo?

Some apps currently compete with Duolingo to reach the language learning market. Memrise is available but also focuses on the memorization of vocabulary, albeit without the daily streak.

Apps that provide more than just memorizing vocabulary are Babbel and Busuu. In both apps, users learn vocabulary. However, they also implement the vocabulary in sentences, paragraphs, and conversations. This allows the user to see the words used in real-world scenarios. Users can use context clues to determine what the conversation is discussing.

However, all popular language learning apps lack the same feature. Users cannot implement what they’ve learned in their target language.

When it comes to language learning, speaking is the last skill to be implemented. However, if a learner converses with natives early on, the learner can be corrected and their confidence will go up as a result.

The difficulty of conversing with natives

While some applications like HelloTalk and iTalki exist for people to speak with natives, this requires the user to exchange languages with others.

Therein lies the problem: if an English speaker wants to learn Italian and finds a native on HelloTalk, typically the native wants to learn English, so they come to an impasse. This does not allow the English speaker to fully immerse themselves in Italian, as the Italian speaker seeks to learn English.

If an English user does not know how to say something in Italian, they resort to speaking in English and expect the Italian speaker to translate it themselves.

Elon Musk has created a software that could solve these problems

While researching artificial intelligence for my data mining class, I came across a project started by Elon Musk. The project is called OpenAI. The OpenAI company researches artificial intelligence to improve interactions with humans in the future.

One of the features of this artificial intelligence is its ability to comprehend multiple languages.

Yes, Elon Musk’s OpenAI is a polyglot.

The best method in implementing OpenAI to language learning would be something similar to Busuu or Babbel. After a user learns basic vocabulary, the user would then speak to the AI in the target language. The user would immerse themselves in the target language, and the AI could then provide the user with feedback and corrections.

The first few lessons could cover basics, like greetings. Once the user learns how to greet someone and ask how they are doing, the user would interact with the AI and ask it questions.

Once the user completes the lesson, the user would move on to more complex vocabulary and grammar structure. At the end of the lesson, the AI can then converse with the user to show mastery.

By implementing OpenAI into learning a language, anyone who seeks to learn a language would no longer feel obligated to maintain a daily streak or focus on memorizing vocabulary. Instead, they would immerse themselves in the language with OpenAI and achieve fluency.

Who would this benefit?

The goal of implementing OpenAI to language learning would be for those who don’t have access to native speakers around them. It would also help language learners who cannot afford to enroll in a language class at their local college or cannot afford to travel to their target language’s country.

Implementing OpenAI into language learning would promote fluency, as speaking the language is the best method to become proficient.

Conclusion

If OpenAI is integrated into language learning, this could make Duolingo obsolete. Language learners would no longer memorize vocabulary; instead, they would apply what they’ve learned through conversation and become fluent in their target language.

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