AI’s Here. So Why Bother Learning Another Language?
The sentiment of disillusionment about learning another language has always been around. I remember asking myself back in school: “Why am I learning French when Quebec is so far away? It’s not like I’m going to go there or anything.”
Here in Japan, that sentiment feels even more pronounced. For most students, language study is seen as just another bit of nonsense to cram into their already overloaded schedules. On top of that, there’s a sad reality: many Japanese people feel they don’t need to be part of the world—that their tiny island chain is enough.
That’s overly dramatic and highly contestable. Shame on you, Brett!
Still, the priority to learn another language ranks very low here. The sense of local community often overrides global considerations.
And now, we introduce a new player: AI. Psychologically, it adds yet another layer of excuses for language learners. The dream of a Star Trek-style universal translator—or a pocket-sized C-3PO—tempts many to abandon common sense… or does it?
So let’s ask the big question: Now that AI is here, do we still need to learn another language?
Why Are We Learning a Second Language in the First Place?
At some point in history, a nation—or perhaps several—decided that it would be wise to make their people wiser. How wise of them!
Cue the scholars: they argued that learning a second language boosts cognitive training—enhancing memory, focus, and even problem-solving abilities. That’s the brainy side of things.
But there’s also a policy side. Cue the politicians: Governments, especially in multilingual or globally connected regions, saw language learning as strategic. It wasn’t just about the brain gym—it was about diplomacy, trade, security, and influence.
Think Cold War-era programs encouraging Russian or Chinese study, or EU member states investing in multilingual education to foster unity and mobility. Even in Japan, English education became a symbol of global participation—though whether that participation is successful is still contestable, hence why I am here?
In short, language learning has long served a dual purpose: personal development and national strategy. That’s quite the résumé for something many see as just another school subject.
Let’s talk about the brainy side of things. Don’t worry, I will be brief.
The Brainy Side of Language Learning
Before AI swooped in like a digital superhero, language learning had already built a strong case for itself on purely cognitive grounds.
Do you remember those dreaded and seemingly useless algebra or trigonometry courses—which I personally struggled with, immensely? Language study can feel just as abstract and irrelevant.
Let’s face it: calculators rendered advanced math moot long ago. But we still teach it. Why? Because math cultivates logic and pattern recognition. And guess what? Language does the same—and then some.
Here’s what language learning strengthens:
🧩 Memory – More vocabulary = more mental filing cabinets
🔄 Mental flexibility – Switching between languages builds neural agility
🎯 Focus and attention – Multilinguals often show stronger executive control
⏳ Delayed cognitive aging – Bilingual brains may resist decline for longer
🎨 Heightened creativity – Juggling meaning sparks original thinking
💗 Empathy – Understanding another language opens the door to understanding people—not just their words, but their worldview (I explore this more deeply in my piece on expressing feelings in English—especially how it challenges Japanese learners to step outside cultural norms.)
So no, it’s not just about grammar drills or flashcards. It’s a full mental expansion pack—shaping how we think, feel, and connect.
Enter AI: Our New ‘Get-Out-of-Jail FREE’ Card
Let’s face it: language learning in Japan hasn’t exactly lived up to the hype. For many, it’s a confusing blur of grammar drills, test prep, and textbook dialogues about fruit baskets. It rarely leads to real, confident communication.
Then along comes AI—offering instant translations and pre-polished sentences. No stress, no awkward pauses, just polished output. It’s no wonder people are thinking:
📱 Why memorize vocabulary when translation apps exist?
🎙️ Why practice speaking when AI can deliver perfect pronunciation?
✍️ Why struggle to make sentences and write when AI can do it for us? (This is the nightmare of teachers nowadays.)
And yet, this passive relationship with tech is part of a larger trend in Japan. I’ve written about it before—how Japan’s resistance to online learning reveals a discomfort with digital tools—and with independent, unstructured growth.
It’s not just what we’re using, but how we’re using it. If we rely on technology to do all the heavy lifting, we disengage from the very process that creates skill, identity, and connection.
AI isn’t just a tool—it’s a psychological loophole. “I don’t need to learn—I’ve got tech for that.”
But relying on AI doesn’t build ability—it replaces it. It gives the illusion of fluency without the substance.
Tech’s Gaps & a Rusting Blade
Technology might be fluent in output, but when it comes to translation, it often sounds like something’s missing.
A reader once told me my translated pieces felt like “water without taste.” That quiet comment said everything—perfect grammar, zero flavor. Machine translation may be fast, but nuance still gets lost, especially when culture and connotation clash.
When it comes to dialogue, tech gets even clumsier. “Please type what you want to say so I can translate it.” Imagine trying that in a spontaneous conversation. Sure, AI might help with writing, editing, even polishing tone. But authentic interaction? Not yet. And not soon.
Let’s pivot—what’s this all mean?
If we were meant to be wiser, why wouldn’t we choose to be wiser? Were the scholars wrong when they argued that language builds intellect?
Let me offer a parable:
“A sharpened blade unused will rust faster than one put to the test.”
Knowledge, like language, needs friction, practice, and dialogue to stay alive. If we rely only on machines, we risk becoming duller blades—all appearance, no edge.
And now for an uncomfortable possibility – Put on your tin foil hats folks:
Is it in the best interest of governments to prefer a population that’s complacent (docile), not curious? Language study encourages exploration, empathy, even dissent. If AI offers a perfect excuse to eliminate it, which country will be the first to drop language learning from the curriculum? I’ll let your imagination play with that one.
Speaking of conspiracy theory—there’s even an op-ed in The Japan Times titled “Bad English in Japan: A Conspiracy Theory.” The writer notes Japan’s heavy investment in English education with surprisingly little to show for it—and wonders if the system is designed to underperform on purpose.
I don’t know, folks. That’s above my pay grade. I’ll let you decide if the breadcrumbs lead somewhere… or nowhere at all.
Conclusion: Do We Still Need to Learn Another Language?
Short answer? Yes. Absolutely.
Long answer? Let me remind you why.
AI might be fast, fluent, and terrifyingly efficient—but fluency isn’t connection, and translation isn’t empathy.
We learn languages not because we must, but because we can. Because it trains our brains, expands our worldview, and lets us live in someone else’s shoes—even if just for a moment.
No app can replicate the struggle of forming a sentence, the joy of being understood, or the humility of realizing you were wrong—in two languages.
So yes, we still need to learn another language. Not because technology failed us. But because we deserve to be wiser from it.
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