The Enduring Flex ✌🏼
> Estimated reading time: 2-3 minutesThis is a response to Hive Learners Prompt 205 Episode 02: A NEW LANGUAGE. We debate if learning a new language is still relevant at all to learn since there is AI to help with translations.
CONTENT MAP
[01] The Initial Awe: Language as a Flex
[02] High School Memories: The Struggle and the Why
[03] The Value of Exposure
[04] AI vs. Human Connection: The Emotional Gap
[05] The Future of Language Learning: A Sign of Curiosity
The Initial Awe: Language as a Flex
When I saw this prompt, I was in awe and I knew where I stood in this argument immediately.
Learning a new language will forever be a flex no matter how much AI we have in the world to help as a translator.
Learning a new language isn't just for learning sake or to get money, its more than that. Learning a new language and culture has a way of improving how your brain works and it shows how disciplined a person can be. Learning a new language is talent mixed with a bowl of hard work and those two qualities are very attractive traits in a human being.
The appeal of mastering new languages.
High School Memories: The Struggle and the Why
I remember when I was in high school, English, Yoruba, Igbo, French and even German language was in our curriculum and as you would expect, a lot of students hated it, lol because of the memorization and stress involved. LOL
We had to learn strange words and sounds that totally made no sense to us at that time. I remember when we were taught to tell the time in French and also learning to count numbers. LOL. We kept on wondering why we had to learn so much languages when English itself that we spoke was already difficult itself.
Reflecting on early language learning experiences. 🦜
The Value of Exposure
However, as I got older, I began to appreciate the curriculum set by the school. Being exposed to different languages and cultures is a privilege. It expands your POV (point of view), how you view the world, improves your cognitive skills, and also helps you understand foreigners or people not in your current environment.
AI vs. Human Connection: The Emotional Gap
Don't get me wrong, AI translators have made communication beyond borders much easier and faster but it doesn't give that feeling or emotion that comes when speaking another person's language. Additionally, it robs us of the personal effort and emotional connection that comes with struggling to learn and finally understand someone in their own language.
If you have ever heard people that live in the Northern part of Nigeria speak English, you would immediately fall in love with their accent. Or even when Nigerian girls that are obsessed with Korean movies speak the language, you would actually pause and admire the grit and patience they used to learn it. Those words they say (Unni, Oppa etc) actually aren't that easy to commit to memory, learn and also form your own sentence with.
The Future of Language Learning: A Sign of Curiosity
In my opinion, AI should act as an assistant in learning or helping to translate but not a full replacement. Learning a language will always be a flex because it builds confidence.
So no, I don't think learning languages is becoming irrelevant. In fact, it is becoming even very much attractive. In a world where machines now do all the work for us and we have AI'ed and digitalized everything, choosing to learn a new language is a sign of curiosity, discipline, and respect for culture.
Maybe it's good we had this conversation, I now feel the need to go back to my Duolingo course where I was learning German.
✨ Hive Learners Prompt Week 205 Episode 02: A NEW LANGUAGE⟲ Return to top