A RECENT report titled “In the age of AI, some in China wonder if learning English is worth the trouble” highlighted a growing debate across the region: With real-time artificial intelligence (AI) translation tools advancing rapidly, is mastering the English language still worth the effort? (The Star, Sept 20; online at bit.ly/4iOHIkx.)
As an English educator, my answer is an emphatic yes. Surrendering language acquisition to technology fundamentally misunderstands how human communication, global commerce and AI actually work. For Malaysia, following a trend towards linguistic isolation would undermine one of our greatest national strengths.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
