Make This the Year You Learn English. Let's Make Generative AI Your Best Learning Partner

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

Lately, haven't you found yourself in more situations where you think, "I want to use English!"—whether it's checking overseas news or videos, using English for work, or talking to locals while traveling?

But are you giving up on learning English for reasons like, "Learning from a teacher takes time and money, and it makes me nervous..." or "I've been meaning to start, but it's just a hassle..."?

That's where generative AI comes in. By using generative AI, which has evolved rapidly over the past year, you might be able to learn English more efficiently and effectively.

In this series, we will have Kumiko, who researches and shares English learning methods that can speed up English acquisition, teach us all about the possibilities of "Gemini × English Learning" through a four-part conversation with Gemini advisor Kensu.

※ Gemini's answers are not always correct. Please verify the accuracy of the results yourself when using Gemini.

The most important thing for continuing to learn English is to "have fun"

Kensu: When did you start using generative AI for English instruction, Kumiko-san?

Kumiko: It was around the beginning of 2023. I have always advocated that English should be self-taught, and I think generative AI is a perfect match for that.

Kensu: I imagine you've taught English to many students since before generative AI, but where do most people stumble?

Kumiko: The biggest hurdle is "continuing." If you just keep at it, you will definitely master English, so the key is how to maintain your study habits.

Kensu: I see. I've tried to learn English several times in the past, but I feel there are three major challenges. First, it's easy to slack off when studying alone. That said, going to an English conversation school costs money, and if you only go once a week, it's hard to see any progress in your skills. Also, I feel embarrassed that I can't talk properly with foreign teachers. Can these kinds of issues be solved?

Kumiko: I think they can be solved. I believe the fact that you can "customize" it using generative AI is especially significant.

"Instant English Composition" becomes more practical by utilizing Gemini

Kensu: For someone who says, "I'm starting my English studies today," where should they begin?

Kumiko: For example, there is a method called "Instant English Composition." It involves instantly translating Japanese sentences that appear randomly into English. With existing textbooks, you run into various issues, such as being presented with situations that don't fit you or encountering textbook-style English expressions. However, by using generative AI, you can practice with content that is more tailored to what you are looking for.

Kensu: Certainly, if a textbook says something like "My older brother plays baseball," but you don't have an older brother and aren't interested in baseball, there's no real opportunity to use that phrase...

Kumiko: First, you input a prompt asking it to provide Japanese sentences for you to translate into English like this. At this time, be sure to include information about the learner's profile, the fact that you are a beginner at English, that you want to do instant English composition, and that you want it to correct you if you make a mistake.

Prompt Example

Kumiko:The first question has already been asked. Let's try entering 'Today is my daughter's birthday, so I'm going to buy a cake and bring it home' in English.

Kensu:'Today is my daughter’s birthday, so I'm going to buy a cake and take it home,' I suppose.

Kumiko:Like this, if there are no issues, it will simply praise you and give you the next question. Next is 'Please show me the floor plan of the new house.' How about that?

Kensu:A floor plan... It's about how to express a floor plan, but maybe 'Please show me the plan of a new house.'?

Kumiko:It's almost perfect, but it gave me advice that 'floor map' is more accurate for a floor plan. As you can see, just as we instructed in the initial prompt, it will point out even subtle differences in expression. Also, if you want to focus on learning specific grammar, you can include that in your prompt, and Gemini will accommodate you.

Kensu:That's practical and great!

Easily create 'flashcards' by linking with Google Sheets

Kensu:Like the 'floor plan' example earlier, I think there are many cases where words don't come to mind. What should I do about that?

Kumiko:For vocabulary, flashcards made with generative AI are effective. For example, this time, I'm going to use the index at the end of my book, 'IELTS English Vocabulary: Speaking Strategy by Field and Paraphrasing' (Asuka Publishing). First, I'll take a picture of this index with my smartphone, attach it to a prompt like this, and run it.

Prompt Example

Kumiko:Then, like this, it creates a very clean list of words for you.

Response from Gemini

Kumiko:There is a link at the end of the table that says 'Export to Google Sheets,' and if you click that, it will automatically create a Google Sheet reflecting the contents of the table.

Kumiko:By having this data edited to fit the format of various vocabulary apps, for example, and importing that data into the app, you can create flashcards in just a few minutes.

Kensu:This export to Google Sheets is great, isn't it? By the way, what I often do is have generative AI translate the blog posts I've written into English. Many of the words listed in English vocabulary books aren't that important to me personally. Since my own blog is about topics I'm interested in, I think it's easier to remember and my motivation stays high. For example, I paste the English translation of my blog into Gemini and ask it to 'extract important words from this and summarize them in a table format,' and then I read the English text again after learning those words. When I do that, I feel my level of understanding deepens.

Kumiko:That's great.

Kensu:The biggest reason why learning doesn't continue is that you get sick of it, right? So, what is the reason for getting sick of it? In my case, it's 'not understanding things,' so I think it's best to clear up what you don't understand before you start. That said, if you ask a teacher to do that for you, it costs money. But by using generative AI like this, you can pick up and utilize the texts you like, so I feel it's great that you can do it pinpoint-style without spending money.

Let's also practice English conversation 'role-play' using Gemini Live

Kumiko:There is another method using the voice conversation feature called Gemini Live.

Kensu:More and more keep coming up!

Kumiko:A common concern for Japanese English learners is not knowing what to say. This time, I would like to practice a roleplay using Gemini Live based on a common concern I received often when I was in Canada: a conversation example for ordering coffee at a cafe.

Kensu:Roleplay, that sounds great.

Kumiko:Before we start, I will set my smartphone's secondary language to English so that Gemini responds properly in English. Sometimes, even if you tell Gemini 'Please speak in English,' it might reply in Japanese (laughs).
*Please check here for Android language settings, and here for iOS language settings.

Kensu:That still happens sometimes, doesn't it? (laughs)

Kumiko:Once the language settings are done, let's have Gemini show us a correct example of the conversation before we start the actual roleplay. I'll ask for a conversation example after specifying the situation with a prompt like this.

Prompt Example

Response from Gemini

Kumiko:After you have studied a bit here, launch Gemini Live and then request the roleplay.

Voice Prompt Example

Kumiko:With this, it will properly proceed with the roleplay in English.

Example of interaction on Gemini Live

Kensu:It's great that it never gets angry no matter how many times you do it. Also, it's mentally very easy because you don't feel embarrassed and you don't have to take up anyone else's time.

Kumiko:This time it was an example of an interaction at a cafe, but I think it would also be useful for other situations when traveling, such as interactions at immigration or how to check in at a hotel. From there, you could even input a prompt like 'Extract the important words from this and summarize them in a table format' to add them to your vocabulary list.

Kensu:With typical learning materials, you have to switch between materials for instant English composition, vocabulary memorization, and English conversation, but the nice thing about Gemini is that you can learn everything at once on the same screen!

Kumiko:Truly, in an era where you can get your own best 'English learning partner' for free, I think various possibilities are expanding.

Kensuu:I feel that the possibilities for learning English have expanded all at once. Thank you very much!

For more details about Gemini Live, please see the article below.

What do you think of these English learning methods using Gemini? I think all of them can be started with a low barrier to entry. I hope this reaches as many people as possible who feel challenged by learning English.

The conversation between Kensuu and Kumiko continues! Next time, Kumiko will teach us how to use generative AI to efficiently practice "extensive listening" (listening to a lot of English), which she places great importance on.
We hope you look forward to it.

Kensuu × 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 also created numerous original teaching materials and curricula, and has provided training on teaching methods to over 50 native and bilingual instructors. She is the author of "IELTS Vocabulary: Speaking Strategy by Category and Paraphrasing" (Asuka Publishing) and "What People Who Taught Themselves to Speak English Are Doing" (Rechange).

Kensuu (Kensuke Furukawa)
Representative Director of ARU, Inc. He has been involved in internet services since he was a student and 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 every day on the membership-based business media "ARU Development Room".