THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE POWER TO TEACH FOREIGN LANGUAGES: A NEW REALITY IN EDUCATION

Abstract

The paper briefly touches upon the emergence and evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The authors provide certain examples of current best practices in using AI as educational technology to teach foreign languages both in Russia and abroad along with the forecasts related to the future applications of AI opportunities in education. The ways students use the power of AI when getting prepared for English classes and sitting their language examination are also discussed to find out to which extent it should be considered academic fraud. Some approaches to confront the misuse or even the abusive use of AI for doing current and specifically exam writing tasks are offered. The paper also considers challenges and limitations of AI in education in general and in teaching foreign languages in particular. The conclusion is made that taking into account the current level of AI development nowadays it cannot be regarded as a full-fledged educational technology. Being undoubtedly an innovative, powerful and helpful instrument for a teacher of foreign languages both when preparing and teaching the language class it is still unable to fully replace a human in a classroom in a foreseeable future though the benefits of AI power for the students studying foreign languages specifically independently or using e-learning are obvious.