52. The AI Language Paradox: A Language Expert's Take on AI Learning and The Future of Language

Artificial Intelligence presents amazing potential for language development and translation in the next couple years. Imagine a scenario where a Vietnamese speaking student can enter a full immersion English speaking classroom on day one with an AI translation device which seamlessly translates both languages so a student can engage in content without having to develop a full language competency. Many companies are excited by this possibility and working fervently to make it a reality. A world where technology makes communication across languages seamless and accessible. While AI technology presents the capability to make seamless translation a reality, does it come with tradeoffs? We know every language, let alone dialect, also includes cultural context, nuance, and semantics, meaning the gap for miscommunication still exists. If AI translators are adopted across the world, does it also lead to a loss of cultural competency as folks rely on AI translation rather than learning new languages - and the cultural lens which come with it? At the same time, many schools and teachers across the world are experiencing tremendous challenges in supporting multilingual learners. As our communities continue to change, there are classrooms where many different languages could be spoken - how does a teacher support all of these students? Can AI help? Tan Huynh has insight here. As a multilingual education expert who speaks six languages and an individual who has taught close to two decades in a variety of educational contexts, Tan is uniquely positioned to provide important answers to these big questions. Show notes at TheAIEducationConversation.com