Hi Everyone,
This is Kyle and Rachel’s contribution to the Mobile feast. We looked at the analog past, mobile present and possible AI driven futures for Language Learning Assessment.
By focusing on several popular language learning applications, it became very clear that AI is driving remarkable change in the industry. If only 25% of the ideas being tossed around right now work out we can expect a lot of fascinating changes to come in the near future.
We look forward to hearing your thoughts and opinions! Below you will find our discussion questions.
https://sites.google.com/view/523-a3-ai-assessment/home
Authenticity vs. Convenience: Do you think apps like Duolingo, Rosetta Stone, and Babbel assess real language ability or mostly app-specific performance? How should educators weigh that difference?
Feedback Quality: The apps all provide instant correction, but is “right/wrong + retry” enough to build deeper skills? What would authentic feedback look like on mobile?
Equity and Access: These apps claim accessibility, but features like pronunciation scoring or AI chats often sit behind paywalls. Does this reinforce inequities in language learning, or does the free tier still make a meaningful difference?
Teacher’s Role: If learners are practicing daily with mobile assessments, what role should teachers/tutors play? Do they become mentors checking process or evaluators verifying proficiency?
I believe apps like Duolingo are excellent tools for helping users learn the foundational concepts of a language, such as vocabulary, grammar, tenses, and basic sentence structures. However, they are less effective for assessing true language proficiency, which develops primarily through active use in conversation and real-world contexts. While these apps provide structured practice and reinforcement of foundational skills, authentic language use, including nuances, language-specific phrases, slang, and conversational speaking, can only be learned through actual communication and social interaction in the studied language. As an English teacher, I see a similar principle in the classroom. I may give students exercises focused on grammar, spelling, or literary devices, but the real measure of their learning comes from how they can apply these skills. Memorizing rules or definitions is only the first step; true understanding is demonstrated when students can transfer their knowledge across contexts, whether through writing, discussion, analysis, or creative projects. Similarly, language-learning apps are valuable for building foundational skills, but authentic proficiency is developed through application, interaction, and contexts beyond the exercises. For teachers, these apps can help assess foundational understanding, while conversational and applied skills require complementary activities.