Artificial intelligence (AI) is a development that can no longer be ignored. In fact, it’s developing at a very rapid pace, and is finding its way into more and more areas of daily life. Among many, this raises the question if learning Dutch with AI is also possible. Or to be more precise, whether learning Dutch with AI is as efficient as the creators of the models would like us to believe. After all, language models are advancing quickly, but how efficient are they?
At Dutch Ready, we are open to any developments that help students learn more effectively, so we decided to dive a little deeper into this topic. In this blog article, we’ll zoom in on AI language learning tools and their advantages and limitations when learning the Dutch language.
Not everyone follows all technological developments closely, so if this is not your area, let us quickly tell you what artificial intelligence is. Artificial Intelligence is a field of study that focuses on creating computer algorithms that can think and act like humans, so they can perform tasks that require human intelligence. Even if you belong to the group of people who are somewhat reluctant to use AI, you are actually using it far more often than you think. Think of everyday applications, such as:
To better understand the AI models that claim they can teach you a language, you first need to know what deep learning is. Deep learning is a type of machine learning inspired by the structure and working of the human brain. It learns by analyzing data and identifying patterns without explicit programming. After training, the model can interpret new data and make predictions. The well-known language model ChatGPT is an example of this. GPT stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer.
Generative models are specific applications of deep learning that are focused on creating new data. Almost all Large Language Models, i.e. models that are designed to understand human language, to generate human language and to react to it, are GPT’s. What they actually do is nothing more than determine the statistical probability based on an input. In other words, a GPT cannot think, it can only predict based on probabilities determined in the dataset it is trained on.
We probably all agree that we would rather work with a Dutch teacher who knows things and can think than with a teacher who can only make predictions. But let’s not completely depreciate what artificial intelligence can do in teaching Dutch before delving further into this.
Recent research on the benefits and challenges of AI-learning tools reveals that there are indeed a number of advantages to learning a language with the help of an AI tool. When used as an addition to the traditional class, the tools can speed up the learning process and be of assistance to personalized learning. According to the same research, however, AI language learning tools cannot fully replace a tutor, because they lack human interaction, personalized feedback and cultural and contextual nuances. Moreover, they have been found to have limited ability to recognize errors, often create errors (also known as hallucinations) and aren’t able to produce original and creative language.
When it comes to using AI-chatbots as a language learning medium, science seems to agree that AI language learning tools need further development and improvement. While chatbots are accessible and can help in reducing a learner’s anxiety, they often lack depth and adaptability. Moreover, their effectiveness is limited, with novelty wearing off over time.
With regard to communication skills specifically, it can be argued that chatbots can contribute to personalized learning experiences with their instant feedback, promoting the development of speaking and listening skills. However, further research is needed to determine the long-term effects. To date, research data is too limited.
Before enrolling in our language school for Dutch lessons, most of our students have already learned a few words using the famous green owl. DuoLingo is perhaps one of the best-known examples of AI language learning tools. It’s known for its gamified approach, but certainly no less for its weird phrases. Does ‘natte schildpadden hebben geen dorst’ (wet turtles are not thirsty) ring a bell to you? We are still contemplating in what situation this sentence might serve you well. Also, DuoLingo exercises are quite superficial and lack nuances. Other language learning tools that offer Dutch training are:
Because it goes too far to review all of the tools above in this blog, we decided to focus on the world’s most known chatbot ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI. ChatGPT understands over 100 languages, leading numerous language learners to experiment with it. Free access is available, but you do need the paid version to get the most out of it. We took on the role of a Dutch learner ourselves and conducted some small experiments, practicing with the four classic skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Let’s take a look at the results.
The importance of practicing your reading skills is often underestimated. But the truth is, while reading, you can actually take the time to break down and internalize both grammar and vocabulary. No matter what language you’re learning. When you’re out of reading material, or when you’re unsure about what is suitable for your level, you could ask for the help of ChatGPT. You do that by using a prompt (textual message).
In our experiment, we used this prompt:
I’m a beginner in Dutch and only know the most common 300 words. Summarize the plot of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone for me at a level I can understand.
This was ChatGPT’s output:
Actually, the summary above looks quite good. The text does not contain unnecessarily difficult words and makes use of short sentences. In other words, ChatGPT can be of added value when practicing your reading skills. However, keep one thing in mind: when you learn with a tutor, they naturally also quiz you to check if you really understood. Together you can discuss difficulties and tricky words. Do you work with ChatGPT? Then don’t forget to ask the chatbot to quiz you as well. This is the only way to be sure that you really understood the text.
Let’s move on to the next possibility that ChatGPT offers you. When you’re learning Dutch with AI, you also need writing practice. For many students, writing is the least favorite part of learning a new language. A simple example is to write a piece of text and ask ChatGPT to correct it for you, using the prompt ‘Check this Dutch for me’.
In our experiment, we asked ChatGPT to correct this text (the underlined words are incorrect):
Ik heb een grote familie. Mijn ouderen heten Maria en Pedro en zijn 55 en 58 jaar oud. Ik heb ook een broer, hij Stefan heet en is 24 jaar oud. Iedereen wonen in Portugal. Mijn grootmoeder woont ook in Portugal en is 84 jaar oud. Ze is de moeder van mijn moeder. Mijn moeder heeft twee zussen, Dolores en Lourdes en hebben twee kinderen. Mijn vader heeft een jongere broer, maar hij heeft twee kinderen: een jongen en een mesje. Ze zijn mijn neef en nicht. Mijn neef is ouder van mij en mijn nicht is jongere.
ChatGPT was able to correct all the mistakes in the written text and rewrote it flawlessly. What it doesn’t do, is explain to you why it does what it does. In other words, you don’t get any feedback on grammar, spelling, and word use. If it’s not clear to you why a mistake was actually a mistake, you can ask ChatGPT for clarification. We asked the model why it corrected ‘mijn nicht is jongere’ (the last words of the text) into ‘mijn nicht is jonger’. It gave us this answer:
Translation: Why incorrect? The word ‘jongere’ is a noun and means a young person (often a teenager), not an adjective. In this context, you want to use an adjective: ‘jonger’. Correction: The correct sentence is ‘Mijn nicht is jonger’. Here you use the adjective ‘jonger’, that belongs to the comparison.
Although ‘jongere’ is indeed also a noun, this is no explanation that helps us any further. Looking at how you composed the rest of the sentence, a tutor would have understood that it was your intention to use an adjective, not a noun. Your tutor also would have told you that the mistake lies in the fact that the adjective was written with an -e at the end, which we don’t do in Dutch when an adjective comes after the noun. ChatGPT’s explanation didn’t clarify that at all, meaning you’ll make limited progress.
When you’re learning Dutch, whether that’s with AI or or without, you’ll definitely want to work on your listening and speaking skills to be able to have daily conversations in Dutch. Could ChatGPT be of any help here? Of course we tried this out as well. To have conversations with ChatGPT, you’ll have to activate the advanced speech mode, which lets you choose from several voices. Instead of writing a prompt, now you speak to ChatGPT. A good spoken prompt could be:
‘I want to speak with you to practice my Dutch. Can we chat at a B1 level?’
The voice you chose will then invite you to tell it what you would like to talk about. We replied with ‘Hallo, kunnen we over katten praten?’ (Hello, can we talk about cats?)
ChatGPT replied to us with:
Hallo! Helaas kan ik niet direct met katten praten, maar ik kan je wel helpen met allerlei tips en informatie over katten! Wat zou je willen weten?
(Hello, unfortunately I can’t talk to cats directly, but I can help you with all kinds of tips and information about cats! What would you like to know?)
ChatGPT seemed to be a bit confused about prepositions here. ‘Praten over katten’ means ‘talking about cats’, and ‘praten met katten’ means ‘talking with cats’. Although ChatGPT’s reaction doesn’t cause a huge problem, it was at least a little funny.
We then held a short conversation, in which a few things stood out:
Of course, we have only had a few brief conversations and cannot draw any firm conclusions. However, it is often said that the chats are generally a bit shallow. That doesn’t mean they’re useless, but it’s best to use them for short, simple practice. They could lose their value as you progress in learning Dutch. On the other hand, all the voices speak with the speed of a native speaker. That makes it more difficult for beginners.
Some students admit they feel a bit awkward in the beginning when starting lessons with a tutor. Even though you know your tutor doesn’t expect you to have the skills of a native speaker, performance anxiety can play tricks on you. But that’s perfectly normal. And besides that, of course, you need some time to feel comfortable with a new person. If there is a good match between you and the tutor, that feeling will soon disappear and you can build a bond together. A tutor gets to know you and, based on that, can tailor your lessons even further.
At Dutch Ready, we take the time to get to know you well and match you with a fitting tutor. Interested in following Dutch lessons with us? You always go through an intake and then a trial lesson Dutch with one of our experienced tutors. In the end, you are always the one who decides if there is a match.
It is well known that ChatGPT can give incorrect, biased or sometimes even offensive responses. In most cases, that’s the result of incomplete, outdated or biased training data. As you may know, ChatGPT is trained using information on the internet. And anyone with a keyboard and an internet connection can post information online. When a piece of misinformation occurs often enough, ChatGPT sees it as a valid pattern, and this leads to inaccuracies in its responses.
Furthermore, as ChatGPT essentially predicts the next part of a text, its predictions can simply be wrong. This means there will always be the risk of errors in output.
Another negative consequence of the datasets used to train AI models: lack of proportional representation of different cultural, gender, or socioeconomic backgrounds.. When the output of the model does not match your religious, cultural or personal views, this can make you feel unaddressed or misunderstood as a learner and hinder the communication with the model. Needless to say, this doesn’t make your learning journey any more pleasurable.
At Dutch Ready, when we talk about customized lessons, we’re not only talking about lessons that seamlessly match your skills and learning goals. In fact, we’re also talking about lessons that fit you as a person. That means our tutors take into account your daily life, beliefs, and interests. Did you know that even your native language can help you immensely in learning Dutch grammar and vocabulary? With the knowledge you already have, you can kickstart your Dutch.
So, let’s get back to the main question of this blog article: is AI a supportive tool or a standalone solution when it comes to learning Dutch? As far as we are concerned, the answer is clear and in line with the current state of knowledge according to science: AI tools are not a full replacement for a tutor. Given how the tools work, for now, we recommend using them only as an additional practice option when you don’t have official or tutor-created exercises available. Are you taking classes with a tutor and would you still like to experiment with AI? It’s smart to show the exercises to your tutor, so that they can prevent misconceptions arising from possible misinformation.
Finally, let’s quickly list the benefits of both ways of learning for a complete overview. In the table below, you can compare the advantages of learning Dutch with AI to the advantages of learning Dutch with a tutor.
Advantages of learning Dutch with AI tools like ChatGPT | Advantages of learning Dutch with a tutor |
✅Flexibility (available 24/7)* | ✅Lessons tailored to your needs and interests |
✅Low-key alternative for exercises developed | ✅Personalized feedback |
✅Low-cost | ✅Adaptive customization for specific learning goals |
✅A structured learning plan and tracking of | |
✅Understanding of cultural contexts | |
✅100/100 effective at correcting your mistakes | |
✅ In-depth focus on pronunciation | |
✅ Motivation and accountability throughout |
All of Dutch Ready’s lessons can take place face-to-face as well as online. That means that, even when choosing the more ‘traditional’ learning path, you can always learn Dutch from the comfort of your own home. In the matching process, we look for a tutor who is available at times that are convenient for you. Feel free to get in touch with us!
*Looking for maximum flexibility? We’ve also developed our own e-learning platform, which consists of grammar lessons and practical lessons in which you apply what you have learned. Our interactive module is also fully in line with the CEFR, the European standard for describing language abilities. Currently, we have an e-learning platform for level A0-A1 and an e-learning platform for level A1-A2 available.
Share to:
Language lessons & materials designed to help you learn Dutch fast. Use what you know, simplify what you don’t.
Hi! We just wanted to let you know that we use cookies on our site. These cookies enhance your experience, improve the quality of our site, and help us show you things that are more likely to be relevant to you. You have the option to manually allow third parties (including our advertising partners) to enable cookies on our website. By clicking 'Accept', you're agreeing to the placement and use of cookies described in our Cookie Policy. That's all. Thanks for reading!
