Interview with an expert: Language as a tool for building a career in Poland and abroad

Language as a tool for professional mobility

How does your knowledge of foreign languages influence your professional mobility – both in Poland and abroad?

Karolina Kasperska: As a graduate of German Philology at Adam Mickiewicz University and Applied Linguistics at the University of Warsaw, I can confidently say that foreign languages have been the foundation of my professional development. Foreign languages - especially English - are essential in professional life, both for communication within international organizations and for career growth, as a significant portion of training materials is created globally and available primarily in English.

How does knowledge of the English language still open doors in the job market? And when is it worth investing in learning a second language?

Karolina Kasperska: In today's global world, we form teams across borders, learn from each other, and utilize available resources depending on many factors - regardless of our native language, as English is the language of communication at work. Mastering English at a high level opens many doors and is no longer something exceptional - it is difficult to find employment in most professions, at many positions, in companies and organizations, without knowledge of English.

Learning another foreign language can bring only benefits to an organization. For example, if we work in a Swedish company, knowledge of the Swedish language, even at a basic level, will always be appreciated. Through language, we also learn about the culture of a given country - we begin to take an interest in its music, cinema, or literature. This is much more than just the ability to create grammatically correct sentences.

What benefits (besides professional ones) can foreign languages bring to us?

Karolina Kasperska: I believe that it is always worth learning another foreign language, if only because of the well-known benefits for our nervous system – it’s a great exercise for the brain. Studies show that knowing more than one language can delay the symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia, support concentration, memory, and cognitive flexibility, and even increase the so-called cognitive reserve of the brain.

Which languages do you currently consider to be "languages of the future"?

Karolina Kasperska: It depends on what will interest us and in which areas we want to develop. However, one thing is certain – in the coming decade, the English language will maintain its position as the lingua franca. This is indicated by one of our reports, The Future of English, in which we examined the role of this language globally and its usage across different continents. One of our key conclusions is that English will maintain its position as the leading language of communication worldwide.

The role of technology in language learning

How has technology – numerous apps, artificial intelligence, e-learning platforms – changed the way we learn languages?

Karolina Kasperska: In language teaching, the use of so-called "new technologies," and currently also tools supported by artificial intelligence, has always been more popular than in the case of other school subjects. I believe that AI makes the learning process more inclusive – primarily because many tools (still) are available for free and can be used whenever we have the time and motivation to learn.

It should be emphasized that AI tools are only a supplement to well-chosen teaching methods, implemented by a real teacher. In my opinion, this is the best combination for today: a trained teacher and AI tools properly selected to meet the needs of the learner.

Of course, it should also be remembered that not everyone has equal access to fast internet, the appropriate equipment, or knowledge about AI tools that can significantly support independent learning.

Can tools such as ChatGPT or other AI support language learning?

Karolina Kasperska: Of course – and it’s best to ask ChatGPT about this – by providing it with information on how we prefer to learn or what we want to focus on. AI-based tools, such as ChatGPT, can effectively support language learning by offering instant language assistance, corrections, and the possibility to engage in conversation. They make it easier to access content tailored to the learner's level and allow practicing the language in a safe, non-judgmental environment. Thanks to them, students can learn at a time and pace that suits them, which fosters individualized learning.

What digital solutions would you recommend to people who want to learn a language "in their spare time"?

Karolina Kasperska: Artificial intelligence today offers tools for individual learning at almost every level of proficiency and – depending on the user's skills – allows for the development of all language competencies. We can practice speaking by having conversations with a bot, write various types of texts, role-play dialogues, or analyze mistakes. By watching movies, TV shows, or short videos on streaming platforms, we familiarize ourselves with the language in different registers and accents.

However, it is important to maintain balance – it’s worth planning your screen time so that it is well utilized, for example, by learning a language, watching movies in English, or playing games in that language. This way, we learn almost "incidentally," and the process becomes faster, more natural, and enjoyable.

Let’s also remember that no matter how wisely we use artificial intelligence, working with it will never replace the experience of learning in a classroom with other people.

Traditional language learning vs. technology – does one exclude the other?

Are traditional learning methods (e.g., in-person courses) still effective, or are they being replaced by digital solutions?

Karolina Kasperska: In my opinion, the ideal solution would be learning with a teacher – either in-person or online – who could, based on their knowledge, adjust digital tools to suit our needs. However, for this, we need well-trained teachers and reliable, recommended tools. Certainly, a huge advantage of AI-based tools is their quick response and the fact that they are impartial in assessing the results of our learning.

When using such tools, we should, however, follow the same rules as we do when using the internet in general: take care of security, protect personal data, and monitor the time spent online.

Learning with the help of artificial intelligence gives a sense of agency – we can independently plan our learning and follow the pace we set for ourselves. Is this form of learning more effective? Does motivation really increase when access to learning a foreign language is almost within reach? Answers to these questions will only come in the coming months and years, along with the results of studies analyzing the first experiences with using AI as support in language learning and teaching.

More about the responsible use of artificial intelligence can be found in our latest report.