I’m curious about people’s experiences of using AI to help them with their learning. Perhaps particularly relevant to us Chinese learners given the recent success of models like Deepseek.
For me it isn’t a primary tool, but I have used ChatGPT in a couple of different ways.
- Speaking practice
I think the ChatGPT new voice mode is an interesting tool for language practice when you don’t have too much access to native speakers.
When I have used it like this, I have prompted it to sort of create a single player role play scenario in Chinese. I then play through it in Chinese.
The biggest downside I’d say is that any hesitation in your speech at all and ChatGPT will interrupt. Not great when it’s your second language.
- Writing analysis
I think it’s pretty good for reviewing things you have written.
For e.g. if you’ve written an email you can share it with ChatGPT and tell it what your intended meaning was in English and the tone you were trying to strike. It will then give suggestions with explanations, for e.g. “this sentence is understandable, but a little bit casual. You can say instead…”
Pretty good for correcting things that, perhaps aren’t grammar mistakes but are simply not how a native speaker would phase things.
Anyway, curious to hear how others are making use of AI.
I’m generally quite skeptical when it comes to using AI for language learning purposes and I’ve avoided it for most situations. The only times I’ve used it has been for some grammar explanations. While it has been correct in most cases, as I’ve verified some things with my native friends, I’m still afraid of it hallucinating or giving wrong answers. Or not producing natural-sounding speech or writings. For me, the positives of using LLMs haven’t outweighed the negatives and I don’t know what I would use it for that I can’t find somewhere else, or through asking my friends. My biggest annoyance is all the language learning apps that have been released but that just acts as a front-end for some LLM.
