The Future of Language Learning
Carsten Peters, Language Mining Company
I have been a language learner as long as I can remember. On average I spend 1-2 hours daily on learning languages. I do different activities, use all kinds of tools, and I switch languages to keep myself motivated. And I am a language teacher, so it is almost impossible to imagine a life without language language or coaching.
Just recently, I have become a Google for Education Certified Innovator. During a lunch break at the academy, I was asked to give my opinion on the future of language learning. My answer was spontaneous and it really made me second-guess the very reason for my existence.I said: In the future language learning will not be necessary anymore and my work will become irrelevant.
Wow! Did I just dismiss myself? Carsten, you are fired! No, not really. Let me explain.In the future (and it might not be too many years from now) I see an increase in bilingual people all over the world due to migration, exchange programs, and efficient second language teaching in our schools. In other words, more and more people will be able to chose a common language to communicate in. Working as an expat in a foreign country and using only English both at work and in your social relationships is already common practice.
On the other hand, technology will play an important role in communication. There will be (and there are already) devices that will translate oral conversations on the fly. Today, we might still be concerned about the accuracy and the misunderstandings resulting from the translations, however, the quality of both hardware and software will improve considerably. Hence, a common language will not be a necessity for efficient communication anymore.
Does that mean the end of language learning for good? No, definitely not. The focus will be on language acquisition in the early years of life, which will decrease the need for adult language learning. Immigration will still take place and therefore there will always be a need for learning a foreign language. What will probably disappear is language teaching as we know it today. Technology will play an important role. And augmented reality can provide an immense benefit on this behalf.
Subscribe to Industry Era
News
The ChatGPT desktop app is more helpful than I expected - here's why and how to try it
At I/O 2024 ‘Demo Slam,’ Google launched employee Gemini hackathon
Google’s AI Overviews Are Here, Whether You Want Them or Not
‘Grand Theft Auto VI’ Sets Fall 2025 Release as Take-Two Posts $2.9 Billion Quarterly Loss
Google Search celebrates Minecraft’s 15-year anniversary with fun new Easter egg
Google’s making it easier for people with low vision to find objects using their phone
A quantum-entangled photon traveled 35 kilometers under the streets of Boston
Cramer says these 10 stocks helped the Dow briefly crack 40,000
Stock market today: Stocks pull back from records after Dow touches 40,000 for first time
China's factories fire up but consumer, property weakness persists
China consumption slows as retail sales and investment data disappoint
"One Chip Challenge" led to Massachusetts teen's death, autopsy finds
14-year-old died of heart attack after participating in a spicy tortilla chip challenge