Imagine your child having an engaging conversation partner available 24/7, ready to talk about everything from the mundane to the profound, without judgement. Imagine them being able to practise English at their own pace, in their own space, and still experience the richness of language immersion.
That’s the promise of learning English with ChatGPT – a fresh, dynamic, and personalised path to English language proficiency.
But what exactly is ChatGPT? And how can your child use it to improve their English skills?
We’ll answer these questions, and more, in our guide to using ChatGPT to learn English. Let’s get started!
What is ChatGPT?
Think of ChatGPT as a word-loving robot. Created by OpenAI, it’s a smart program whose job is to take a bunch of words, like pieces of a puzzle, and put them together in a way that makes sense.
To learn how to do this, ChatGPT was given lots and lots of writing from the internet. This taught it about the rules of language – how sentences are built, when to use certain words, and so on. It’s a bit like how kids learn language, but much, much faster!
ChatGPT was also trained with people to understand how humans think and talk. When it gave a good answer, it got a “pat on the back.” Just like a child, it learned through Positive Reinforcement (or, in this case – Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback). Whenever it gave a good and appropriate answer, it was rewarded, which reinforced its mannerism.
It can also answer follow-up questions, modify its answers according to given parameters, reject ‘inappropriate’ queries, and challenge incorrect assumptions.
How English Prepares Your Child for the Future
The digital world, which is an integral part of our lives, operates largely in English.
Whether using the internet, navigating our smartphones, or diving into popular games like Minecraft or Roblox, a grasp of English is often essential. An enormous amount of information, innovation, and entertainment online is rooted in English, and understanding and using this language allows us to access it fully.
Reading translated content isn’t always the best solution. Sometimes, translations can be inaccurate, leading to misunderstandings or loss of essential information. Besides, relying solely on local-language sites restricts our access to the vast digital universe out there.
This becomes especially important when we consider AI technologies like ChatGPT. While it’s true that ChatGPT can generate text in multiple languages, its core functionality is built around English. It ‘thinks’ and ‘learns’ in English, and its translations to other languages may not always hit the mark. To truly harness the power of this AI, we need to communicate with it in its ‘own’ language – English.
As we enter the near future, AI will become even more prevalent in our daily lives. To keep up with this AI revolution, understanding and using English is becoming less of an option and more of a necessity.
Learning English is about more than mastering a second language. It’s about giving your child a key to unlock the potential of the digital world and future AI innovations.
Embracing Technology in English Learning
There’s no denying that technology is reshaping education and language learning. Recognising this, Helen Doron English has always been at the forefront of integrating technology into its English language instruction, keeping pace with innovations to enhance students’ learning experience.
Our unique teaching methodology utilises a range of digital tools. These range from interactive apps like Alphachat to chatbots for English practice and streaming educational content on Helen Doron Stream to other e-learning resources. These tools not only make learning more engaging and accessible but also enable the immersion approach, a proven method to effectively learn a new language.
English immersion is not just about classroom learning; it’s about bringing English into everyday life. It’s setting your computer and phone’s Operating System to English, watching Netflix with English audio and subtitles, or even reading a recipe in English. By using English wherever and whenever possible, students can get comfortable with the language and improve their skills naturally and effectively.
That’s where ChatGPT comes into the picture. This AI-powered chatbot offers another way to practise English in our daily lives.
Whether your child needs to look for information for a school assignment, brainstorm an idea for a story, or just wants to chat for fun, ChatGPT is there to interact in English. Every conversation with ChatGPT is an opportunity for your child to practise and learn, transforming everyday moments into valuable English language learning experiences.
Using ChatGPT to Learn English
ChatGPT English learning is really exciting!
If your child can read and write basic English, they can start playing with ChatGPT.
Here’s how to use ChatGPT to learn English.
- Start with Simple Prompts. Your child can ask ChatGPT conversational questions about the weather, the colour of the sky, or the day of the week. They can also ask something as random as ‘What can we do for fun?’. Chat GPT will respond with suggestions like “Let’s Play 20 Questions!”
- Practise Tenses and Grammar. ChatGPT is a safe space for your child to practise different tenses and grammar structures. They can try out the present continuous or past perfect tenses. For instance, practice using prepositions or experiment with complex sentences.
- Make It Silly. Your child can have a lot of fun with Chat GPT! They can ask it to tell a joke, chat with a famous person, or share a funny story. They can even ask for a story with specific elements, like aliens or cowboys. It’s a great way for them to learn how to express themselves confidently.
- Improve Vocabulary. ChatGPT is a friendlier alternative to dictionaries. Teach your child how to ask for the meaning of a new word and how to use that word in a sentence. You can also ask for fill-in-the-blank tests to reinforce and expand their vocabulary.
- Check Mistakes.ChatGPT English learning is multifaceted. Your child can ask it to check for grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors in a sentence or passage they’ve written. Simply copy and paste the section and ask ChatGPT to highlight the errors.
- Ask Anything: Learn English with ChatGPT, but don’t stop there! This AI tool runs off huge databases, so it’s pretty encyclopaedic in scope. Teach your child how to use it to ask questions, clear doubts, or seek help with homework.
Educators have long insisted on the importance of ‘playing while you learn, and learning while you play.’ ChatGPT sums up that approach in a pretty comprehensive way.
The Human Touch in English Learning
While technology and AI tools like ChatGPT significantly enhance language learning, the importance of human interaction in this process is irreplaceable. At Helen Doron, we strongly believe in the power of human presence, feedback, and emotional connection. Our teaching model predominantly revolves around offline, in-person classes.
There’s an undeniable value in the guidance of a dedicated teacher, the camaraderie among students, and the subtle nuances of in-person communication that technology can’t fully replicate. Teachers provide personalised instruction, encourage students when they struggle, and celebrate their achievements, creating a nurturing learning environment.
Some might worry that technology could make students passive or reliant on AI for answers. However, in reality, tools like ChatGPT can encourage active learning and critical thinking. Given that ChatGPT, like any AI, may occasionally provide incorrect information, students must learn to cross-check information and seek reliable sources. This, in turn, fosters independent thinking and research skills.
Upgrade your Child’s English Journey with ChatGPT
Educators have long insisted on ‘playing while you learn, and learning while you play.’ When it comes to encouraging your child to learn English, ChatGPT sums up that approach in a pretty comprehensive way.
You can easily adjust it to your preferred English skill and proficiency level.
Make the most of ChatGPT to learn English by familiarising your children with this revolutionary tool.
Just give it a try and watch your child’s language skills soar.
