Let's Incorporate English Learning into Your Daily Routine Using Generative AI!

Hello. This is the official note editorial department for Google's AI, Gemini.

For busy business professionals, the quickest way to maintain English learning is to incorporate it into their daily routine.

By utilizing generative AI, the business tools you currently use can become your own original English learning materials. In this article, we invited Kumiko, who researches and shares English learning methods to speed up language acquisition, to discuss how to make English learning a habit using Gemini, in conversation with Gemini advisor Kensu.

* Gemini's responses are not always correct. Please verify the accuracy of the response results yourself when actually using Gemini.

Let's create your own original learning materials

Kensu:I believe you mentioned "habituation" last time, and I really feel that is important. The key is how to fit English learning into your daily routine.

Kumiko:Thinking about it in a business context, for example, Gemini works well with Gmail, which is also a Google product. To give a simple example, you can immediately use it to have Gemini draft replies to English emails. You can copy and paste the email text into the prompt, or if that's too much trouble, you can take a screenshot of the email, input it directly into Gemini as an image, and have it draft a reply.

Prompt example

Response from Gemini

Kumiko:Furthermore, it's also a good idea to have it list useful vocabulary, expressions, and phrases from there, along with explanations.

Prompt example

Response from Gemini

Kumiko:If you export the listed words and such into a table format to Google Sheets, you can efficiently create data to feed into flashcard apps. This follows the flashcard creation method I mentioned at the beginning.

Kensu:I see, so by using generative AI, emails can become original learning materials.

Kumiko:To give a slightly more advanced example, you can use the "Custom Gems" feature, which allows you to create a Gemini specialized for specific tasks, to set your past style or persona and have it draft email replies based on that.

Example of custom instructions

*Please also see the following article regarding the custom Gem feature.

Kensu:This is also convenient, isn't it? It might be good to make not just the email reply draft creation, but also the listing task I mentioned earlier, a set in a custom Gem.

Kumiko:That's a great idea! What I just shared is only one example; for instance, you could have it proofread reply drafts you've written yourself, or summarize English newsletters, among many other possible uses. Also, it's not limited to Gmail; for example, you could have it collect information necessary for work using YouTube x Gemini as we did with extensive listening, or understand English text using your favorite Japanese blogs as we also did with extensive listening—it seems like you could create endless original learning materials.

Kensu:The problem with commercially available learning materials is that they often lack realism, don't they? For example, even if it says "Please tell me how to get to the embassy," you rarely actually find yourself in that situation. In contrast, with the approach you just introduced, the base is real interaction, so the way you engage with the learning materials changes, too.

If you're stuck on the learning method itself, it's also an option to ask Gemini about it directly.

Kensu:Kumiko-san, you've invented various learning methods utilizing generative AI, haven't you? I've learned many ways to use Gemini in this series, but how do you think readers can find their own way of using it?

Kumiko:Since I don't think people can come up with ideas right away if they're just told to "think about it," I think it's best to try out the methods that Kensu-san and I mentioned this time, and as you gradually understand the nature of generative AI, you'll be able to make your own arrangements.

Kensu:Also, while we were talking, I thought it's also an option to just consult Gemini directly on how to proceed with English learning.

Prompt example

Response from Gemini

Kumiko:When you actually consult it, it doesn't answer immediately, but starts with questions like "How do you want to use English?"

Kensu:Since it answers while asking questions like this, it seems like you could decide which learning style is best for each person while consulting with Gemini.

Kumiko:Also, the content of the consultation itself becomes a reflection for yourself. For example, if you go to the gym, you might want to ask for a learning method you can do while running on a treadmill. In fact, I have students who practice extensive listening while at the gym.

Kensu:So, it's like you can do English listening just like listening to music.

Kumiko:There are also people who practice English conversation while driving. They said they can converse as if there were someone in the passenger seat.

Kensu:And you can check that interaction in text later, too. Personally, I think using Gemini Live as a conversation partner to boost motivation is also a good idea. It can encourage you endlessly, right? You can even consult it about things like, "I don't feel like studying English today, what should I do?"

Kumiko:It's like a coach.

Kensu:Thinking about it that way, we should rethink our learning plans on the premise that generative AI already exists. Not how to apply generative AI to existing English learning materials, but how to proceed with learning using generative AI in the first place.

Kumiko:I think that's a great idea.

Just having Gemini by your side opens up new possibilities

Kensu:We've discussed in depth how to use generative AI for English learning, but on the flip side, Kumiko, did you have any new discoveries yourself?

Kumiko:By hearing about your usage examples, Kensu, I realized once again that one learning method can be applied to many others. You can go from instant English composition to role-playing using Gemini Live, or pick out important words from articles you've read extensively to create flashcards.

Kensu:Just having Gemini by your side really opens up so many possibilities, doesn't it! Until now, there were hurdles like the hassle of starting English study, the transition from instant composition to extensive reading, or simply not being interested in the themes of textbooks, but I've realized that it solves all of these at once. Now that it's this easy, I'm in trouble because I've run out of excuses not to do it (laughs). I think it's important to do even a little bit at a time, so I hope to be fluent in English by the time we meet next.

Kumiko:I'm looking forward to it!

Kensu:With that, thank you for this four-part series!

As Kumiko mentioned at the end, by utilizing Gemini, a single learning method can be applied to various other learning techniques.

First, I hope you try out the initiatives introduced by the two of them, and from there, gradually find the optimal materials and study methods for yourself.

I hope this article serves as a starting point for you to use the latest Gemini for your English studies.

Kensu x Kumiko Conversation Series

Interviewer Profiles

Kumiko
Managed a language school in Canada for 10 years, providing instruction in various courses including IELTS preparation, TOEIC, English grammar, business English, translation, interpretation, and English conversation. She has created numerous original materials and curricula, and has trained over 50 native and bilingual instructors in teaching methods. She is the author of "IELTS Vocabulary for Speaking: Categorized by Field and Paraphrasing Skills" (Asuka Publishing) and "What People Who Taught Themselves to Speak English Do" (Re-Change).

Kensu (Kensuke Furukawa)
Representative Director of Al, Inc. Involved in internet services since his student days, he joined Recruit Co., Ltd. in 2006. After working in new business development, he founded Rocket Start Inc. (later nanapi Inc.) in 2009. He joined the KDDI Group in 2014 and became a director at Supership Inc. He has been in his current position since 2018. He posts articles almost daily on the membership-based business media 'Al Development Room'.