AI in Language Learning and Teaching: Engaging Students

By Dr. Karolina Kopczyński  |  05/15/2025

To achieve proficiency in any foreign language, students typically learn that language’s vocabulary and prepare for conversation with native speakers. They also develop a cultural understanding of another country to comprehend the idioms and cultural nuances unique to their target language.

Many teachers can use traditional teaching methods to provide students with the necessary language skills and improve each learner's proficiency level. However, artificial intelligence (AI) technology can be used as a supplemental tool to augment traditional language teaching methods in foreign language education.

For example, AI tools offer educators and language learners innovative ways to create a personalized language learning experience. AI tools can also track students’ progress and create activities of various difficulty levels, depending on students’ grasp of the subject matter. Such technologies engage learners, provide the motivation to study harder, and offer more opportunities to practice conversations.

AI and Language Learning

There are many artificial intelligence tools, such as virtual assistants and chatbots, that simulate real-life conversations and are highly useful for foreign language education. They allow learners to practice their listening, comprehension, and speaking abilities. Also, these artificial intelligence tools provide immediate feedback that focuses on syntax, lexicon, and pronunciation.

AI also facilitates the translation and explanations of lesson content. By enabling learners to practice their conversational skills, AI tools help to further students’ language acquisition. Knowledge of a foreign language can also have career benefits when a student pursues job opportunities.

For educators, AI-powered language tools offer a range of enhancements to instructional strategies. For example, providing an automated grading and feedback system saves educators time and helps them to focus on personalized feedback for each student.

AI can also provide educators with a data-driven approach, allowing them to adjust their instructional methods and tailor lessons to meet the individual needs and learning styles of their students. Many students want to master a particular language and easily communicate with native speakers.

An advanced AI system can provide useful tools such as virtual language tutors and a language learning app. As a result, these technologies help students develop their conversational skills, vocabulary, and overall language proficiency.

Adaptive Learning Platforms and Artificial Intelligence

Online platforms like Duolingo®, Mango Languages®, and Babbel® use AI-powered language learning to personalize lessons based on students’ progress and linguistic proficiency. Students can easily access these platforms online and learn languages, depending upon their personal interests and professional goals.

These platforms adjust the difficulty level of all activities based on each learner's progress, and they also address any weaknesses and change the difficulty based on personal performance.

Virtual Tutors and Chatbots for Language Education

AI tutors can help with real-life conversations through their ability to generate human language, offering learners the opportunity to practice their speaking and listening skills. Learners can benefit from AI tools that allow them to answer questions and gain feedback on their learning aptitude. Some common tools include:

• Khanmigo®
• Socrates.AI®

An AI chatbot uses natural language processing (NLP) to interpret students’ questions and generate appropriate responses. Consequently, students can obtain real-time feedback about how their language skills are developing and access quality language education.

Automated Grading Systems to Provide Instant Feedback to Students

Artificial intelligence tools like Gradescope® can help instructors by automatically grading assignments and providing immediate feedback to students. These automatic systems are also scalable; they can grade thousands of written assignments and tests. That capability frees language teachers so that they can focus on creating personalized, interactive learning activities for language learners.

An automatic grading system can also adapt to language learners’ individual learning styles, provide individualized feedback, and notify teachers about each student's individual progress.

However, it’s also important to note that artificial intelligence tools such as automatic grading systems can have their disadvantages, such as potential data biases in AI algorithms, the need for ethical considerations, and data integrity. These factors can affect the learning process and students' language usage.

Speech Recognition Software to Simulate Human Interaction

AI-powered tools like Rosetta Stone®, Talkio AI®, Speechling®, Duolingo, and Google Assistant® use speech recognition software and machine translation to translate text or speech from one language to another. Consequently, language learners using these online programs can more effectively improve their pronunciation of foreign words and practice speaking in day-to-day conversations with native speakers of a foreign language. These day-to-day conversations closely mimic human interaction with real speakers and give them a change to expand their vocabulary usage.

These technologies analyze speech patterns and provide corrective feedback to assist students in improving their fluency. By integrating AI, they also provide students with interactive, real-life scenarios to make the learning experience more interesting and fun.

Gamification for Language Acquisition

There are many AI-driven platforms that can offer language practice by enabling language teachers to create interactive exercises and tailored quizzes. These platforms include:

• Minecraft: Education Edition®
• Kahoot!®
• Quizizz®
• Quizlet®
• Memrise®
• Pimsleur®
• LanguaTalk®
• Lingco®
• Busuu®

Through gamification with these AI-driven platforms, foreign language instructors can help students improve their writing, listening, and speaking skills for more effective communication.

Foreign Language Courses at American Public University

Many degree programs at American Public University (APU) require students to take foreign language courses as a necessary part of their general education requirements. Students can choose from a variety of languages, such as:

• Arabic
• French
• German
• Japanese
• Portuguese
• Russian
• Spanish

For more information about APU’s foreign language courses, visit APU’s arts and humanities degree program page.

Duolingo is a registered trademark of Duolingo, Inc.
Mango Technologies is a registered trademark of Mango IP Holdings, LLC.
Babbel is a registered trademark of Babbel GMBH.
Khanmigo is a registered trademark of Khan Academy.

Socrates.AIis a registered trademark of Socrates AI, Inc.
Gradescope is a registered trademark of Turnitin, LLC.
Rosetta Stone is a registered trademark of Rosetta Stone, LLC.
Talkio AI is a registered trademark of Aidia ApS.
Speechling is a registered trademark of the Speechling Education Corporation.
Google Assistant is a registered trademark of Google, Inc.
Minecraft: Education Edition is a registered trademark of the Microsoft Corporation.
Kahoot is a registered trademark of Kahoot! ASA.
Quizizz is a registered trademark of Quizizz, Inc.
Quizlet is a registered trademark of Quizlet, Inc.
Memrise is a registered trademark of Memrise, Ltd.
Pimsleur is a registered trademark of Beverly Pimsleur.
Langua is a registered trademark of LanguaTalk.
Lingco is a registered trademark of Lingco Language Labs.
Busuu is a registered trademark of Busuu Limited.