JAY JOSHI
Since ages, learning something has entailed the need of a teacher, and involved the traditional setup of a student taking lessons from a teacher. When it comes to language-learning, teachers are seen as key players, introducing beginners to peculiarities of a language. Seen as a sacred process, and a purview of teachers, learning is now undergoing change as technology impacts the way we learn new things.
Recent years have witnessed the rise of a number of language-learning apps which promise to make you fluent in just about any language you desire, and that too free of cost. Such apps have become popular among travellers and language-learning enthusiasts around the world. They offer a chance to learn languages without having to make adjustments to your normal schedule, and apps such as Duolingo, Babble, and others also connect you to native speakers. How reliable and efficient are these apps? TG Life spoke to some enthusiastic language learners to find out whether it is possible to learn a language solely using technology without bringing in the human teachers.
“I find apps rather inconvenient. “ says Siddhi Dole, a student from Panaji who tried a hand at learning Japanese through apps. “When it comes to languages such as Japanese, Mandarin or Korean, there are issues with script and writing. Secondly, speakers from different regions have different dialects, and you need a knowledgeable person to clarify these.”
Swaraj Kanekar from Bandora who learnt Spanish using various online tools has a different opinion. “I took up learning Spanish online as I could not find a class for the same in Goa.It took me five years to become fluent in Spanish, but I did not rely only on apps.” he informs. “There are Youtube channel where people explain rules and peculiarities of a language, and listening to songs also helps.” Senor Jordan is a pretty well known Youtube channel where a Spanish teacher explains the finer points of the language. A web series named ‘Extra’ which is available in English, Spanish and German could also help one increase vocabulary, adds Swaraj, concluding that using a mix of various online tools could make it possible for anyone to learn a foreign language.
Shreyas Desai, a postgraduate student from Pune uses mobile apps to keep his French language skills intact, and avers that teachers also matter. “I mostly use Duolingo to practice French, and it has been of great help. But I cannot completely subtract teachers from language-learning.” says Shreyas. “Online tools will never teach you things that real-live conversations with an actual person will.”
Sanjana Arvandekar, a college student, partly disagrees. “Apps save time and money. If you go to class, you would spend money, and you would spend considerable time travelling. Plus, you would have to skim through reference books and dictionaries in a real life class, but apps offer everything in one place.” Arvandekar does concede though that apps or online tools may not be as effective at resolving doubts that a serious language student might have.
Overall, there is still space for debate in this area. How will apps and online tools improve in the future? Will online learning become the new normal? Clearly not in the present times. Apps may be unable to replace teachers, but they have filled an important gap in that they have taken language-learning to enthusiasts who may not be able to attend regular classes, or may not be able to find classes that offer a chance to learn their favourite language.
