For some people, learning languages can often be perceived the tedious and challenging assignment in their lives. They may attribute their barriers of language learning on some factors such as environment, opportunity to make excuses for themselves. However, with the talk: How Generative AI and Educational Robots are Changing the Way We Learn Languages, Professor Chen provided an innovative method for us to eliminate learning barriers and then make the process of language learning more educational and entertaining.

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    During the presentation, Professor Chen showcased his work-storytelling robot. Creating an authentic learning mode, he hopes to help the users complete the learning task smoothly by the robots. The professor used the NFC tags, showing how he drove the compact robot in his workspace within a few seconds. With the interaction between him and the educational robot, I amazed that the robot even can judge the action and give the users appropriate feedback instantly with a remote controlling app and R&T system. While observing the robot, what impressed me the most was the humanized design of the educational robot. As soon as it gave the responses or told the story, it also expressed its current reaction with versatile emotions including smiling or sobbing. Instead of being indifferent with the learner, this kind of emotion function makes the interaction more approachable. From my perspective, I think using chatbots for language learning will make learners take pleasure during the process. They can own a unique environment with chatbots, absorbing important information from vivid activities and interaction.   

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    Though educational robots with generative AI already have the ability to generate texts and interact with humans who apply for it, it still has some potential issues associated with the applications of AI. When I inspected the texts or dialogues which are created by chatbots or storytelling robots with generative AI, I saw some weird words and phrases which are not familiar with those written by human beings. Worse than, when children contact with this kind of AI texts or dialogues, they may get incorrect or abnormal information unintentionally when they conduct language learning with AI tools. As a consequence, we cannot ignore the negative effects from generative AI.

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    In conclusion, we have witnessed the applications of generative AI and robots in our daily life. Furthermore, we see the possibility of AI technology assisting language learning from Professor Chen’s talk. It is certain that we find an intriguing, effective mode for people to absorb knowledge of language with educational robots. However, before we contact these useful tools, we should also pay attention to the potential problem brought by generative AI. Only when we realize the pros and cons of the learning mode with AI tools will we learn with them appropriately and joyfully.

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