Latest news with #fluency
The Guardian
9 hours ago
- The Guardian
Ohio university says all students will be required to train and ‘be fluent' in AI
Ohio State University has announced that all of its students will be using artificial intelligence later this year, requiring them to become fluent in combining conventional learning with AI. 'Ohio State has an opportunity and responsibility to prepare students to not just keep up, but lead in this workforce of the future,' said the university's president, Walter 'Ted' Carter Jr. He added: 'Artificial intelligence is transforming the way we live, work, teach and learn. In the not-so-distant future, every job, in every industry, is going to be [affected] in some way by AI.' Ohio State's provost, Ravi Bellamkonda, added that its AI fluency initiative will embed education about the technology throughout the undergraduate curriculum. 'Through AI Fluency, Ohio State students will be 'bilingual' – fluent in both their major field of study and the application of AI in that area,' he said. The university said its program will prioritize the incoming freshman class and onward, in order to make every Ohio State graduate 'fluent in AI and how it can be responsibly applied to advance their field'. The novel embrace of AI in higher education comes as a recent study by the Pew Research Center found 26% of of teenagers used ChatGPT for schoolwork in 2024 – twice as many as in 2023. But with AI rapidly becoming mainstream, students will not be allowed to use generative AI to pass off assignments as their own work – and faculty staff will be advised on how to maintain academic integrity. Steven Brown, an associate professor of philosophy at the university, told NBC News that after students turned in the first batch of AI-assisted papers he found 'a lot of really creative ideas'. 'My favorite one is still a paper on karma and the practice of returning shopping carts,' Brown said. Sign up to Headlines US Get the most important US headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion Brown said that banning AI from classwork is 'shortsighted', and he encouraged his students to discuss ethics and philosophy with AI chatbots. 'It would be a disaster for our students to have no idea how to effectively use one of the most powerful tools that humanity has ever created,' Brown said. 'AI is such a powerful tool for self-education that we must rapidly adapt our pedagogy or be left in the dust.' Separately, Ohio's AI in Education Coalition is working to develop a comprehensive strategy to ensure that the state's K-12 education system, encompassing the years of formal schooling from kindergarten through 12th grade in high school, is prepared for and can help lead the AI revolution. 'AI technology is here to stay,' then lieutenant governor Jon Husted said last year while announcing an AI toolkit for Ohio's K-12 school districts that he added would ensure the state 'is a leader in responding to the challenges and opportunities made possible by artificial intelligence'.
Forbes
28-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Forbes
Can You Learn A Language From An App? Polyglot Travelers Weigh In
Women's hand typing on mobile smartphone, Live Chat Chatting on application Communication Digital Web and social network Concept. Work from home. getty It feels like learning a language is easier than ever thanks to the gamification process of popular language learning apps—and on the surface level, it is easier than before to pick up new grammar and prep yourself before going abroad. But can you actually learn a language from an app? We spoke to a handful of polyglots, slow-travelers, and language teachers to get their insights on what to keep in mind if you're trying to become fluent via language app: 'Learning a language is really about talking to people, and I think too many people hide behind language apps,' explained Ollie Lynch, founder of 'I do think the apps are a useful resource and are good for reinforcing what you've already learned, after all they're better than doom scrolling Instagram or the news. But its easy to get trapped in the mindset that you're not ready until you're a certain level on Duolingo, or until you've completed a certain module on Pimsleur.' 'I wouldn't expect to reach a specific level of confidence using just Duolingo for example,' added Lynch. 'There is no substitute for some actual study, whether that's an online course, lessons or a textbook, and then actually using your language skills.' 'Real, deep learning starts when there's a third party involved. A person, not an algorithm. This is where human teachers step in,' explained Jah dela Rosa, ESL teacher and founder of Instant English PH. 'Apps can drill vocabulary or correct pronunciation, sure. But they can't read the room, change the approach mid-lesson, or respond with empathy when a student is frustrated or confused. In ESL, we don't just teach language; we build confidence, relationships, and cultural understanding, all things an app can't genuinely offer.' 'I've found that I learn idioms and other more natural ways of talking by listening to others speak,' explained Leigh Shulman, a writer who speaks five languages. 'Even if I don't understand everything, I pick up the tone and rhythm, so native speakers more easily understand me.' 'In my personal experience, I'll use a study resource, such as a textbook or an online course like LanguagePod,' said Lynch. 'As soon as I have a basic level, I'll then use Tandem or iTalki to make some friends and try and use my skills, even if it's very clunky. And I'll use Duolingo just to keep it all fresh and gamify my progress.' 'Language apps are great supplements. They're engaging, convenient, and reinforce learning through daily interaction,' added dela Rosa. 'But they're not a replacement for a real teacher. Learning English is not just about memorizing words, it's about using language in context, in real time, with real people. That's something only a good English teacher can truly provide.'
