Here we are, at what seems to be the very beginning of a new era – the era of AI. All the fuss about how great or awful it is might have already reached you, and if you are in a job that might be directly affected by this brave new thing, you are definitely not alone.

I am an English teacher and have been one for quite some time. I remember the time when online education took off and became a fixture in countless people’s lives, including mine. There was, and still is, debate about the pros and cons of this, and rightly so. But this new chapter is somewhat different, isn’t it? Now that a language learner can easily access an AI tutor and equip themselves with “all the right” tools, is there still a place for the good old teacher or tutor?

My definitive answer, after a lot of consideration, would be: absolutely yes.

And to all of you who agree, disagree, or are undecided, here is my reasoning behind it. It might cheer you up if you feel worried, ground you a little if you have been carried away by all the excitement and buzz, and give you a new perspective that may help you look at things differently.

What is language in its essence? It is a means of communication between people, and I want to emphasize the words communication and people here. Language was, is, and will always be a tool we use to put our messages across and comprehend what others have to say. And humanity is central to this.

Yes, modern-day learners can learn to ask AI the right questions and get good enough answers related to grammar, vocabulary, and whatnot. They can have an AI conversation partner that sounds natural and points out their mistakes. But at the end of the day, the very point of language learning is to be able to connect with people. And how effective, human, and warm the experience of learning a language with a living human being can be!

The most unfortunate among us might not necessarily have that positive experience, and that’s a loss, albeit not an irreversible one. There are teachers out there whose lessons are not just about grammar, vocabulary, or whatever else. They are essentially about the love of language and learning, about making mistakes and learning from them with compassion and humility, about celebrating achievements, and about sharing the very human journey of learning with someone who understands, guides, and inspires.

And yes, there are people who would not agree, just as there are people who would rather have an AI romantic partner than a real one who might disappoint or hurt them. Having an AI teacher may be a little like that too, if you think about it. It won’t bring the human touch, but it won’t let you down either.

But let me remind you that there is loneliness lurking in that way of thinking, and loneliness is anything but healthy. A real, fulfilling, and warm relationship with a person who truly hears and understands you is what we all want after all, don’t we?

That is why I truly believe that, amidst all the new chaos and excitement, there will always be a place for a lesson with a teacher and with other learners. We acquired our mother tongues among other people, learning to understand and be understood by them, and essentially the same is true for our second, third, and fourth languages too.

Let’s not forget the core of it all. Let us keep faith, cherishing and appreciating the human in ourselves, in others, and in learning itself.