Can ChatGPT Teach You a Foreign Language?

Today, I will give you some ideas on how to use chatbots to improve your language learning.
For that I will first give a brief introduction into chatbots and chatgpt in specific. Then we will review two different approaches on how you can use this tool for your learning based on real examples. Let’s dive into today's topic!
▬ Contents of this video ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
0:00 - Start
00:44 - Chatbots - ChatGPT
02:06 - Conversational Roleplay / Teach me Writing
07:06 - Generate Comprehensible Input / Tell me a Story
▬ Resources mentioned ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
ChatGPT
openai.com/blog/chatgpt/
chat.openai.com/
Wikipedia - Chatbot
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatbot
LingQ
www.lingq.com/?referral=Cx4
Discount Code: b_12dustin

[@DustinSchermaul]

Will you try out chatgpt for your language learning? And if yes what are you going to do? Have a nice weekend! :)

[@Anders01]

Yes, I will try combining ChatGPT with Duolingo for learning Spanish. I think it will make the learning more efficient!

[@DustinSchermaul]

@@Anders01 Very cool! Thanks for your feedback :). Let me know how it went!

[@Anders01]

@@DustinSchermaul I asked ChatGPT to explain "¿Qué tenemos que hacer?" asked on Duolingo, seems to work pretty good with ChatGPT giving a brief explanation that clarifies it.

[@DustinSchermaul]

@@Anders01 Good to hear! Soon Duolingo will also support GPT-4. Can't wait to try it out. So maybe you don't even need to leave the app anymore :D. I wonder what it will cost. But as soon as it's available to me, I will make a test video for sure.

[@salvadoran_uwu]

Yes, I'm learning Japanese, I use it for grammar explanation.

[@senoritak190]

My brother told me about chat GPT because he heard it from MKBHD and I love the AI but i did not know that it could do this too. this is life changing for my Spanish journey. Saludos desde Guyana y Dios te bendiga.

[@DustinSchermaul]

You're welcome! Glad that you like it and find some use in it :). ¡Saludos desde Alemania!

[@veepotter307]

Wonderful examples for using CHATGPT for language learning!

[@DustinSchermaul]

Thank you so much for your positive feedback :).

[@kirstysilvester1]

I am also learning Italian and I have just started using ChatGPT as a language learning tool. It blows me away how many ways it can be used for this purpose. I have asked it to create short dialogues, have back-and-forth conversations with me (with chat GPT acting as a character), correcting my grammar and suggesting more natural ways to write passages of text in my target language. I hadn't thought of asking it to write a story so I think that will be my next adventure! Can't wait for it to have a voice and for audio input to be accepted. Thanks for the great video!

[@DustinSchermaul]

Hey Kirsty :), thank you very much for your positive feedback! I'm happy that you find some value in using ChatGPT for language learning. There are many more ways still to discover and the possibilities are endless! :)

[@marcocappelli2236]

You can also ask ChatGPT to provide you with lists of some good books in whatever language, you can tell it to present the digital books that it has access to, or to link you to the source.

[@rugewit5775]

I usually come up with my own story in a foreign language, write it down, then I give it to the chat gpt and ask: Is this text correct in terms of English/German/Spanish. Also you can ask for: "come up with exercises to practice phrasal verb" or you can give to the chat gpt already done grammar exercises and question "Did I correctly do my grammar exercises?"

[@DustinSchermaul]

Wow, great ideas again, thank you for that! There are so many more things to discover with chatgpt. I have also already more video ideas and can't wait to show you what I have found out :).

[@jimphillips7701]

This is an awesome use of this tool! It may become my favorite language leaning approach. Vielen Dank!

[@DustinSchermaul]

You're welcome! It's definitely a good use of our time if we want to improve a foreign language :). If it now also gets audio it gets completely crazy!

[@e-genieclimatique]

in brief: In this video, Dustin, an IT project manager from Germany, introduces chatbots and AI as tools for improving writing skills and reading comprehension in foreign languages. He specifically discusses ChatGPT, a popular chatbot that uses advanced natural language processing technology to understand and respond to input in various languages. Dustin demonstrates two approaches to using ChatGPT for language learning with real examples: 1. Conversational practice: ChatGPT can be used to simulate conversations in a foreign language, enabling learners to practice writing and receive instantaneous feedback and corrections. Dustin demonstrates a conversation in Italian, showing how the AI can detect errors and provide suggestions for improvement. 2. Generating comprehensible input: ChatGPT can be used to create stories in a foreign language, including translations, grammar explanations, and vocabulary lists. Dustin demonstrates how to generate a story in Italian and then import it into a flashcard application like Anki. He also shows how to use an application called LingQ to generate audio for the story. Dustin encourages viewers to try ChatGPT for their language learning and share their experiences in the comments. He asks for likes, subscriptions, and notification bell clicks to support the channel.

[@DustinSchermaul]

Haha, nice! Thanks mate :). Did you create that using chatGPT?

[@e-genieclimatique]

@@DustinSchermaul yes , GPT4

[@saxoman1]

Annnnd boom, Duolingo releases Chat-GPT4 powered tutor yesterday

[@DustinSchermaul]

WOOOOOHOOOO! Can't wait to try that out! Got a premium subscription now and as soon as I get the opportunity to subscribe to the AI-Version I will do it and make also a test video! Thanks for letting me know :).

[@simonledoux8519]

Hey Dustin! Super useful video with a lot of great ideas on how to used Chat AI. I just recently discovered it and have been using in for improving my Portuguese. The possibilities seem endless. I am going to watch your video again and actually take a few notes to remember some of the many interesting ideas you suggest. I have used it to create dialogues and to interactive conversations. It's been fantastic to receive the corrections for any mistakes I make in grammar. By the way, your English is amazing and you have a cool accent. Thank you for making this video!

[@DustinSchermaul]

Thank you so much for your positive feedback Simon :). I'm happy that the video could provide some value to you. I have also made 2 other videos, with some more ideas on how to use chatgpt, in French and in German, but the stuff I did is applicable to any language. Have a great weekend!

[@swiftismymum4544]

Thanks I'll try it 🙌

[@DustinSchermaul]

You're welcome! :)

[@747Aerophilia]

This is insane! Welcome to the future. We don't have flying cars yet, but at least we have this.

[@DustinSchermaul]

Yes right :D. But there are also other awesome inventions :). We'll get there!

[@SuperZardo]

*The best tasks for openAI to make an interesting language learning dialog* Please write an answer to this post and include in your answer *your task for ChatGPT* which works well. As a starter, here is mine: I would like you to help me learn italian. In order to achieve this goal, I would like you to do the following: 1. Create a short paragraph (about 4 phrases) about a fictitious journal entry written in italian language, about a vacation in Switzerland, or Italy, or the Alps. You should use the present tense and have a first person narrator using the first-person viewpoint. 2. After presenting me your paragraph, using the next user prompt, I will rewrite your paragraph by replacing the first person point of view with a third person point of view named "Carla". 3. Once you have received my paragraph, you should check my paragraph for errors of grammar and orthography ; if you find such errors, please point them out to me.

[@DustinSchermaul]

Wow, what a great idea! Thank you so much for your comment. This is what I love about KZbin… That I can always learn something new. Will definitely try it out :).

[@mrcrazy3646]

I'm going to use it with my students. I plan on having them write in the TL and then have it correct them. I also want to try the conversation thing also with my students and the tool you shared. It is hard to do these things though because my school blocks a lot of things without realizing they can also be useful.

[@DustinSchermaul]

Thats a great idea! Always interesting to read about ideas on how to integrate AI and technology in general to facilitate learning. 🤗

[@AlexandreRoux42600]

GPT to the moon !!! Great video Dustin.

[@DustinSchermaul]

Thank you very much Alex :). Yes GPT to the moon! :D

[@howardbryanthb]

Will be trying out. :)

[@DustinSchermaul]

Have fun! 🤗

[@hx4011]

This is a super cool idea! It allows one to deep dive if they would like on some of the things GPT suggests. One could ask more about the grammer, or sentence structure, or other words for a certain word as the conversation goes on naturally. You can even use this as you are note taking or doing something else in your target language to add a bit more understanding to the topic you are learning instead of using Google since it is much better at finding answers than you could search on Google. I will be giving this a try for sure. I saw when it first came out but have not used it just yet.

[@DustinSchermaul]

Exactly! It makes learning very individual and allows us to tackle the things that are important to us. Can't wait to explore chatgpt even more and see what else it can do. Thanks your feedback! 🙂

[@hx4011]

@@DustinSchermaul I have just started using this today while studying my Russian vocabulary and Reading skills. It is so helpful as you can use it in real time for a sentence you do not understand the structure of. I have just learned that when making examples for the user ChatGPT will acually use beginner or more basic vocabulary when it knows you are a beginner. "Yes, it is on purpose! As a language model, I am designed to use language that is appropriate for the audience and context. When answering questions from beginners, I try to use vocabulary and grammar that is appropriate for someone who is just starting to learn Russian." So cool and helpful!

[@DustinSchermaul]

@@hx4011 Wow that sounds awesome! It only gets better as it seems… There is so much more to learn about chatgpt and how we can use it for our language learning, but I'm already really happy. Will definitely spend a lot of time learning with chatgpt.

[@hx4011]

@@DustinSchermaul Indeed. You should give an update video after using it for 30 days or something like that. Thanks for the recommendations and all of your great videos!

[@DustinSchermaul]

@@hx4011 Thank you so much for the positive feedback! That's a great idea for another video. I try my best :).

[@francisjacquart9618]

QUITE INTERESTING...THANKS A LOT AND THIS LINGQ RECORDING IS ACTUALLY EXCELLENT. I SPEAK ITALIAN, SO I CAN JUDGE! LOVELY! KEEP UP THE GOOD JOB! AND MY PROFUSE THANKS ALSO FOR THE TIP WITH LINGQ. I WILL USE IT MORE OFTEN. I WAS NOT AWARE, THAT WE COULD IMPORT SOMETHING INTO IT AND HAVE IT READ ALOUD! THIS IS REALLY GREAT! LOVE AND TAKE CARE!

[@DustinSchermaul]

Thank you very much Francis :). I try my best!

[@Polyglothmaster]

Da italiano posso dire che la conversazione è corretta e colloquiale. La correzione grammaticale su "bere" invece che "bevere" è perfetta. Ottimo strumento per migliorare la lingua

[@DustinSchermaul]

Grazie mille per il tuo feedback :). Si penso che sia un buon methodo 🤗.

[@TimothyCatan]

I’ve tried ChatGPT to learn a language a relatively uncommon language. It’s translations, while technically correct, were terrible because they were almost always written in a way that people don’t actually speak.

[@DustinSchermaul]

Wow yes I can totally imagine. Especially for more uncommon languages it will be more grave than for the regular ones everybody is learning. But I gess it’ll get better. The new ai’s can also work with less and less materials from a language and still are pretty acurate translators.

[@davidbrisbane7206]

Ask ChatGPT to solve x + y =1 and 4^(-2x) + 4^(-2y) = 1/2 ... and you'll watch it fail all day long - even if you give it lots of hints!!!!! In the end, I taught it how to solve this problem and finally, it got the correct answer, which is x = y = 1/2. But ... when I asked ChatGPT to solve this problem again after loging off and back on again... well, it had learned something but still failed miserably to solve the problem. I have notice that ChatGPT also confidently makes mistakes in language problems too, but it is much better at languages than it is at maths for sure.

[@DustinSchermaul]

Wow… So it's still not where it could be. I've had also recently some weird behaviors where it just invented stuff. I hope that we'll get over that, because it can be quite confusing. We should always make sure to validate if the info it provides us with is flawless.

[@craigwashington4954]

Excellent video! I had no idea this was possible with Chat GPT. I'm learning Brazilian Portugues and this is a winner. Is Google translate a good audio option? Thanks again for this super-informative video.

[@DustinSchermaul]

You're welcome! Glad that you've liked it :). Hmm, google translate is okay-ish, but not super-duper. I've already made a video about the best text-to-speech providers and you can find it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2nIfotmmp6coM0

[@daylightmoon7285]

ChatGPT is a great tool for language learning. However, spoken language can only be learned by speaking and listening to another speaker. Even if they use a speaking bot, they will not teach spoken language. Spoken language is different than the academic language. Maybe, with bots you could learn to speak some but you would sound like an audio book and have problems understanding a native speaker. With language learning, true fluency only comes when you can speak with and understand the emotions and logic of a speaker in various situations. Also, the pronunciations of speakers and the speaker's vocabulary varies and this does not handle that. It will take some time for AI to get to that point. However, it is a very good tool for language learning.

[@DustinSchermaul]

Thank you very much for that comment :). Yes I totally agree! We can reach some basic fluency also by training alone, but at some point we need to interact with another speaker. I also think that in the beginning, we can maybe only reach some basic fluency by using a chatbot. But maybe this helps us to get rid of the fear to start speaking and eases the transition to speaking with a real human. To have AI at such a level that it can understand emotions and logic as well as the subtleties of language and context we still have some way to go. I can't wait to see what comes next :).

[@AddictiveSugar]

I am currently creating a new language with chatgpt it's very fun

[@DustinSchermaul]

Nice idea :-)!

[@greenesyt563]

I'm using chat gpt, duolingo and busuu to learn french and its really good I can ask for detailed grammar and breaking down sentences

[@DustinSchermaul]

Very nice! And it's getting better I think. A good way to have your personal teacher for free! At least when it's about writing etc. A real conversation can't be really replaced. At least so far.

[@gasturman]

Next level shit! 😉 Great idea!

[@DustinSchermaul]

Thank you very much! 🙂

[@Ph34rNoB33r]

When it comes to artificial texts, like a verb conjugated in various tenses, it sometimes fails spectacularly. It has no idea of characters (there are examples on the internet where it fails to count the letters in a word), so if it didn't see this combination enough in the training data, it may make mistakes with the verb stem, apply the wrong rules. Basically the same as when we ask it to do maths. And it will always have an explanation, even if it is obviously wrong. I'm wondering whether we can make it aware of its uncertainty.

[@DustinSchermaul]

Wow thank you very much for bringing that up! It definitely still has some flaws. But overall it‘s anyway quite impressive and will only improve, going forward.

[@stevedowning3892]

Danke, ich werde ChatGPT in meiner tägliche Übungen einführen. Es muss ein bisschen Duolingozeit auszwingen, aber das macht nichts. Personalisierte Übung lohnt sich

[@DustinSchermaul]

Sehr gut! Viel Erfolg damit Steve :-)!

[@zckbarbara]

I use it the same way. There a many other Free Text to Speech Editors available.

[@DustinSchermaul]

It's so great what's possible nowadays :). Can't wait to learn more and to see what other stuff comes up in the future.

[@crobatgaming5661]

The fact that you are underrated is not good

[@DustinSchermaul]

Aw, thank you very much! I try my best :-).

[@CatETru]

I wonder when they will include audio. What If I don't feel like staring at a screen and prefer listening?

[@DustinSchermaul]

I also can't wait for it since I love reading and then listening to the same material. This boosts my comprehension a lot. But there is a way to get high quality audio by copying the stuff from chatGPT and auto generate an audio file. I've made a video about that already here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2nIfotmmp6coM0

[@smkh2890]

The big drawback with Chat GPT right now is the lack of audio. There is a Chrome extension which allows you to speak your questions, and GPT will respond in speech, but it really cannot handle a foreign language I've tried it with Italian, French and german, and it mis-pronounces everything in a hilariously bad way. Room for improvement before it is really useful for language learning!

[@DustinSchermaul]

Yes I agree! I’ve also tried out those plugins in a different video, but didn’t have those grave errors like you had. There are two different plugins. I guess it’s only a matter of time that open ai comes up with voice support.

[@andres3665]

That's because it is trying to read them as English words, you would need to have the French and German voices installed in you computer, but I doubt the extension you are using can change the voices when need it. You would have to talk to it only in your target language if you manage to set the correct language.

[@smkh2890]

@@andres3665 is there a wsy to do that? do you have French chat?

[@andres3665]

@@smkh2890 just talk to chatgpt in French. What extension are you using?

[@smkh2890]

@@andres3665 talk-to-chatgpt v1.62

[@Kurdedunaysiri]

I use it for Greek

[@DustinSchermaul]

Very nice! How did it work? Is the Greek of ChatGPT usable?

[@ms.solinvictusmithra5700]

Where can I get link application?

[@DustinSchermaul]

There you go! chat.openai.com/

[@sommmeguy]

But why learn a foreign language when LLM tools connected text-to-voice can instantly translate for you?

[@DustinSchermaul]

Thats a good question :-). I’ve already made a video about that: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGq2q31uds-Lm5I

[@Luxcium]

😮😮😮En français CHAT veut dire 😅 Cat 🐈 et J’ai pété (J-PÉ-TÉ is French pronouncing for GPT) veux dire I juste farted 💨 😂😂😂

[@DustinSchermaul]

Haha :D. J'ai appris aussi aujourd'hui quelque chose de nouveau :). Merci beaucoup!

[@kritsaphongphuthibpaphaisi1509]

Where is cat on thumbnail ? I need cat.

[@DustinSchermaul]

Haha, got it :D. She's playing around, but rarely in my videos, because she would distract me ;). Thinking about making a video about what my cats teach me about life and language learning.

[@kritsaphongphuthibpaphaisi1509]

She surely can be the life coach

[@user-hq5sp5pi2e]

I would warn against using it for languages farther from English. It has a habit of giving very stilted translations and incorrect grammar explanations for languages like Japanese

[@DustinSchermaul]

It's not perfect that's for sure, but I've found it still very useful and it will only get better :).

[@kerrylynch2800]

Profanity is never necessary or classy

[@DustinSchermaul]

Hm, I don't really get it :(. But thanks for your comment :).