Artificial Intelligence has gone mainstream and is a hot topic in almost every conversation, as AI tools are frequent in day-to-day life. The same applies to AI in the education sector. AI is revolutionising education by providing unique tools for adaptive learning, personalised instruction, advanced coaching and content generation support for students. 

The currently trending AI-based tools like ChatGPT also can benefit students by enhancing writing efficiency and effectiveness and promoting creativity and critical thinking. ChatGPT can generate immediate feedback and personalised practice problems for students. It can also assist students from non-English speaking countries like India in improving their writing skills through its ability to summarise and translate. AI also helps in education management by automating tasks and predicting at-risk students, which allows early intervention. 

The Language Lab 

A recent example of effectively using AI in education in India is a government school in Kuthalam, Tamil Nadu is reportedly using AI by implementing a "Language Lab" for the students to learn English effortlessly. A language laboratory is a space dedicated to studying foreign languages where students can access audio and video materials. They enable a teacher to listen to and manage student audio, which is delivered to students via headphones or in sound booths. It is a beneficial instrument for practising and evaluating communication in any language. It allows students to listen to model pronunciation, repeat and record it, compare their performance to the model, and self-evaluate.  

The advantages of the Lab

While all the states are in a race to reach a milestone in AI implementation, this tiny district of Tamil Nadu is making history. Through their innovative "Language Lab" project, they are leveraging AI to transform language education for primary students. It helps create a space for a more inclusive and equitable society in India and around the globe. It involves exciting games, interactive exercises and assessments to develop a personalised learning experience. It tracks students' progress, analyses their strengths and weaknesses, and offers targeted feedback. It helps give individual attention to each student and empowers them to improve their language skills. 

The applications of the Lab 

It is a handy tool for practising and evaluating speech in any language. It has a feature that allows students to listen to model pronunciation, repeat and record it, compare their performance to the model, and complete self-assessment. It is a setting in which all students can practise their listening and speaking abilities at the same time. Students can work independently or collaboratively with their classmates in pairs, small groups, or the entire class. Teachers can interact with their pupils via listening, observing, and observing. 

Language laboratories offer fun and interactive ways to practice the four basic language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. This AI-powered Language Lab was opened at Government Model Higher Secondary School in Kuthalam. It was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu's Minister of Youth Welfare and Sports Development, Udhayanidhi Stalin, and is just the beginning. This initiative aims to improve linguistic skills for about 90,000 students studying in classes 6 to 8, with plans to upgrade 6,029 existing language labs in government schools at the cost of 23 crores. 

As India is a country with over 21 languages spoken, and where English is often used as a gateway to upward mobility, the ability to learn multiple languages at once is challenging for the children. Here lies the importance of the Language Lab. It customises language instruction as per each student's needs and abilities. 

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