AI speaking everywhere

One of the thrills of being a startup CEO is when you get invited to showcase your product at conferences. After giving a demonstration of FLOW Speak, the most common reaction I hear is “It’s great to see a positive use of AI.” Because of my background working in international education for over two decades, I often meet teachers who want to discuss how AI will impact ESL education going forward. 

Looking back

Before considering the future, I think it is helpful to take a quick look back. When I learned to speak Spanish and Japanese many years ago, the method was to first learn grammar rules and memorize vocabulary from a book. Next you would listen passively to cassette tapes and CDs. Finally you would attend classes where you could get a few minutes of speaking practice with others. I was not the only learner who took years before they could hold their first conversation with a native speaker of the language we were studying. Despite studying Japanese for a year, the first time I went to Japan I quickly realized that I had no clue how to speak and hold a conversation. I wish I had AI speaking technology to help me at that time.

What is AI Speaking Technology?

AI speaking technology is a combination of advanced software programs that use natural language processing, voice-to-text, audio recordings, and speech recognition and analysis to provide language learners with a simulated speaking experience. There are three advantages for using this technology to make rapid progress:

• unlimited practice
• instant feedback to improve pronunciation, speed, fluency and grammar
• embarrassment-free

The future is now

Compared to how learning to speak another language was done in the past, the answer is that the future is already here. This technology is still in its nascent stages and rapidly progressing, but it’s clear this is a no-brainer solution. Learners can start practicing speaking much sooner and, as teachers, we can increase the success rate for our students to master speaking another language. 

The stakes

The implications are profound for using AI speaking technology, especially for students whose motivation is to build a professional career. This is both a local and global phenomenon. Newcomers can move up from labor intensive jobs to higher skilled jobs. Global professionals can earn stable higher pay by building trust and communicating naturally in English during video calls with customers or coworkers abroad. Similar to concerns about the digital divide a decade ago, the ability to speak English proficiently is creating a human capital divide, determining who is prepared to work on the global stage. English speaking skills are critical to moving up.

Teacher-led learning

When my co-founder John and I initially conceived the idea for FLOW Speak, our main goal was to provide learners with an easy way to practice and improve. The purpose of AI is not for humanity to turn into couch potatoes, but to empower people to learn and find fulfillment through self-improvement. 

The purpose of AI is not for humanity to turn into couch potatoes, but to empower people to learn and find fulfillment through self-improvement. 

We have learned that teachers are irreplaceable guides and coaches for students and that the AI speaking technology is a supplement to extend practice beyond the classroom. When teachers are leading the learning process, students greatly increase their frequency of practice. 

Why does this happen? Consider piano lessons. When I took lessons as a child, my teacher always ended the lesson by instructing me to practice everyday at home. I still remember the pressure of returning to the next lesson and showing my teacher the progress I made. As English teachers, this lack of at-home practice and progress tracking has been a huge barrier to helping our students improve at speaking. Now we finally have a solution.

I am convinced that within 5 years AI speaking technology will be ubiquitous. Students and teachers will take it for granted and will wonder how people learned to speak languages before.

AI speaking everywhere

I am proud that FLOW Speak is leading the way in integrating AI speaking technology into classrooms worldwide. I am convinced that within 5 years AI speaking technology will be ubiquitous. Students and teachers will take it for granted and will wonder how people learned to speak languages before.

The sooner you adopt AI speaking technology in your classroom, the better. Schools that are using modern AI speaking technology in their programs are attracting more students. Be ahead of the curve for learning how to integrate this technology into your curriculum and pedagogy. 

Some CEOs want to take humanity to Mars. As CEO of FLOW Speak, our mission is to use technology to help people here on Earth become the best version of themselves.