Thursday, June 25, 2026
Why Learn English in the Age of AI?
（AI時代になぜ英語を学ぶのか）
AI can now provide highly accurate translations within seconds. In many situations, it already works faster and more accurately than professional translators. AI is also becoming increasingly capable of interpreting and even providing simultaneous interpretation. Within the next five, ten, or twenty years, AI-assisted real-time communication may become commonplace in business and everyday life. As a result, many people are beginning to wonder whether we still need to learn foreign languages.
Japanese government, businesses, schools, and individuals invest enormous amounts of money, time, and effort in English education. Yet are these investments paying off? Have Japanese people become proficient enough in English to communicate and negotiate effectively in international business settings? And if AI can increasingly bridge language barriers, what should be the true purpose of learning English in the future?
As these questions become more and more important, the Japanese government has begun to reconsider the purpose of foreign-language education.
According to a Yomiuri Shimbun article published on June 18, 2026, Japan's Ministry of Education has proposed revising the national curriculum guidelines, which serve as the foundation for textbooks and classroom instruction. The proposal would incorporate the appropriate use of artificial intelligence (AI) into English education while redefining the purpose of learning foreign languages in an age when AI translation has become widespread.
The ministry outlines several key reasons why learning foreign languages remains essential.
First, learning a foreign language helps people respect different languages and cultures and live harmoniously with diverse people both in Japan and abroad.
Second, direct communication between people provides richer information and broader perspectives than communication mediated by AI. Language is more than a tool for exchanging information. It is also a way of expressing emotions, values, humor, and cultural nuances that are often difficult to convey through translation alone.
Third, language skills are essential for judging whether AI-generated translations and responses are correct and reliable. As AI becomes more powerful and influential, people will need enough language ability to recognize errors, misunderstandings, and cultural inaccuracies.
I agree with this new direction and with the reasons behind it.
I know that real-time AI interpretation can help people overcome language barriers and communicate effectively in international business settings. However, as a listener, you must process both the original speech and the Japanese translation at the same time while also paying close attention to the speaker's facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language. This kind of communication requires intense concentration and can be cognitively taxing, especially during a long, high-stakes negotiation or meeting. For that reason, I believe AI interpretation is practical only in certain situations.
Throughout my career of more than thirty-five years, I have had the opportunity to work with people from many different countries and cultural backgrounds. Looking back, I believe the greatest benefit of learning English is not simply understanding what other people say. AI or human interpreters can often help us do that. The real value of learning a foreign language goes far beyond communication itself. It allows us to build trust, connect emotionally with people from different cultures, see the world from new perspectives, broaden our horizons, and enrich our lives.
From my own experience, I know that whenever possible, people prefer to communicate directly rather than through AI translation. Using AI interpretation for an extended period can be mentally tiring for everyone involved, making it more difficult to develop genuine friendships and deep personal relationships. AI can do an excellent job of helping us communicate, but it cannot fully replace the trust and emotional connection that develop when two people communicate directly, heart to heart, in a language they both understand.
Therefore, even in the age of AI, learning English will remain a tremendous asset. The less we rely on translation, the more naturally we can communicate, understand different cultures, build genuine relationships, and develop mutual trust.
There is no doubt that AI will become an indispensable communication tool, but I believe that truly meaningful human relationships will continue to be built through direct communication between people who share a common language.