Artificial intelligence (AI) in language courses

There are many reasons why students learn foreign languages today. They want to get in touch with people from other countries and cultures, enjoy foreign-language literature, films, music or other art forms, travel to distant countries, write academic papers, be internationally successful in their careers, etc. We want our course participants to continue to be able to communicate, acquire knowledge and critically question its value without machine and/or AI-generated support.

Here are our rules for the use of AI in our language courses:

1. AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT, Google Bard etc.) are allowed in class under defined conditions. The use of these tools will also be covered in some of our courses. As these are very new tools that are in a constant state of flux, we will have to work together in the future to find out how and when these tools can be used sensibly. If we do not consider the use of tools to be didactically appropriate, the course management may prohibit you from using them.

2 You are responsible for the results of your work. All tools have their limitations. Information in any type of media can be incorrect. ChatGPT can formulate well, but makes errors in content, thus reproducing prejudices and sometimes even providing invented, non-existent information. So before you continue working with AI-generated information, you must check it and revise it if necessary. The tool does not think for you, you think with the help of the tool. In the end, you are responsible for your own work. You must be able to explain your text to others. You are responsible for errors, not the tool.

3. any AI tools used must be indicated. As in the past, all sources must be cited. This also applies to AI-generated texts. Your teacher will give you further guidance.