Taiwan is quickly becoming an “AI Island.”
Schools are adding AI bots. Companies are using ChatGPT to write emails. The government is spending billions on digital learning. It feels like every part of our lives is being “uploaded” to a server.
But there's a growing concern. As we use more AI, are we losing our ability to connect?
A recent article in the Taipei Times titled “Taiwan's AI classrooms need a human operating system” makes a powerful point: AI can give you the words, but it cannot give you the “human infrastructure” to use them.
If you feel anxious that your English skills aren’t keeping up with the machines, you aren’t alone. Let’s look at why your human voice is more important now than ever.
The Problem: The Trap of “Cognitive Offloading”
When you use AI for everything—writing your reports, translating your thoughts, or fixing your grammar—you might be experiencing cognitive offloading.
This is a fancy term for letting a machine do your thinking for you.
The Taipei Times article cites an MIT study showing that people who rely heavily on AI tools like ChatGPT actually show weaker neural connectivity and poorer recall.
In simple terms: if you don't use your brain to build sentences, your brain forgets how to do it.
For Taiwanese professionals, this creates a specific kind of anxiety. You might find yourself:
- I'm stuck while in a meeting because you didn't have a translator app ready.
- Feeling like a “fake” because the English you use in emails is 100% better than the English you speak in person.
- Losing ownership of your ideas because the AI changed your “tone” into something that doesn't sound like you.
The solution isn’t to stop using AI. The solution is to prioritize the one thing AI can never copy: Human Connection.
The Solution: The Compare-Choose Framework
To build real confidence, you need to understand the difference between what AI does and what a human does. IMC English, we use a framework called Compare-Choose.
Instead of just letting AI generate a response, we compare the machine’s “perfect” output with your “human” output, and then we Choose What builds the best connection?.
1. Compare: AI vs. Human
| Feature | AI Tools (ChatGPT, Bots) | One-on-One Human Conversation |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Instant. | Slower, with natural pauses. |
| Accuracy | High (Grammar/Vocabulary). | Variable (Mistakes happen). |
| Empathy | Calculated “feelings.” | Real empathy and eye contact. |
| Feedback | Logical and data-driven. | Emotional and supportive. |
| Resilience | None (it doesn't feel stress). | Builds strength through effort. |
2. Choose: Why We Prioritize the Human “How”
If you only practice with a bot, you aren't learning how to speak to a person. You're learning how to talk to a computer.
A computer doesn’t care if you hesitate. It doesn’t notice when you look confused. It doesn’t help you “read the room.”
I choose to focus on human interaction because real life is messy. Real conversations involve:
- Reading your boss's facial expressions.
- Adjusting your tone when a client is frustrated.
- Finding the right words when you are nervous in an interview.
You can't “offload” these skills. You have to build them through One-on-one conversation practice.
Lesson: Building Your “Human Operating System”
The article mentions that teachers need to become “learning engineers.” I believe students need to become “connection engineers.”
AI can give you the vocabulary, but you must provide the intent. judgment.
Think of AI like a calculator. It's great for math, but it won't teach you how to manage a budget or negotiate a salary. Your English is the same. AI gives you the raw data; your “Human Operating System” provides the meaning.
Practical Exercise: The “AI-Review” Method
Next time you use an AI tool for your English, try this three-step process to stay in control:
- First draft Write or speak your idea in your own words. Don’t worry about mistakes.
- AI assist Use AI to suggest a “polished” version.
- The Human Choice: Look at the AI version. If it sounds too formal or “unlike you,” reject it. Choose the version that feels authentic to your voice.
This small act of effort prevents cognitive offloading and keeps your brain active.
Practice: Reacting to the Unpredictable
AI cannot “read hesitation” or build trust. In our lessons, we practice the things AI can't do.
Here is a model dialogue showing how a human conversation handles “the gap” between knowing English and using it.
Scenario: A Travel Problem
I understand flights can be delayed, and I'm frustrated, but I need to get to my destination. Is there any way we can arrange an alternative flight? Perhaps a flight with another airline, or a later flight tonight? I'm flexible with my travel plans and would appreciate any assistance you can offer.
AI Version (Perfect but Cold):
“Excuse me, my flight is delayed. I would like to request a voucher for a hotel or a meal. What are my options according to your policy?”
Human Version (Building Connection):
You: “Hi... sorry. My flight is delayed, and I'm a bit stressed. Is there any way you can help me find a place to stay tonight? I'd really appreciate it.”
Why the Human Version is better:
- It acknowledges your feelings (“I’m a bit stressed”).
- It builds rapport with the staff member (“I'd really appreciate it”).
- It creates a “safe space” for the other person to be helpful.
When we practice these scenarios in our trial lessons, we don’t just look for the “right” words. We look for the “right” connection.
Results: Moving from the Classroom to the Wild
The ultimate goal of English is not to pass a test or have a “perfect” chat with a robot. The goal is to use your English in the real world.
Whether you're navigating an airport, leading a meeting at TSMC, or making friends while traveling, your voice is your most valuable asset. AI can be a tool in your pocket, but you are the ones in the driver's seat.
If you're ready to stop relying on apps and start trusting your own voice, I'm here to help. I provide a supportive, one-on-one environment where you can make mistakes, build your “Human Operating System,” and finally speak with confidence.
Key Vocabulary Glossary
| Term | Meaning | Example Sentence | Chinese instructions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cognitive offloading | Using tools, like AI, to do the mental work your brain should be doing. | “Relying solely on ChatGPT for emails is a form of cognitive offloading.” | This refers to over-reliance on tools like AI for tasks that the brain should be handling, which may lead to a decline in thinking ability. |
| Human Operating System | The social and emotional skills (empathy, judgment) that humans use to communicate. | “We need a human operating system to handle the complexity of real conversations.” | Using computer terminology, it refers to indispensable human traits in communication (like empathy, judgment) that are core competencies AI cannot replace. |
| Read the room | To understand the emotions and hidden meanings in a group situation. | “AI can translate the words, but it can't read the room during a tense meeting.” | Observe and gauge people's expressions and demeanor, and sense the atmosphere of the situation. In business communication, this is more important than simply translating. |
| hesitation | To notice when someone is unsure or nervous by their voice or body language. | “A good coach can read hesitation in a student's voice and offer support.” | Perceive hesitation. During speaking practice, a coach can notice your pauses and offer encouragement, which is something AI currently cannot do. |
| Ownership | Feeling that your words and ideas truly belong to you. | “If the AI writes everything, you lose ownership of your personal message.” | This refers to a sense of control and identification with one's own expressed content, ensuring that what is said represents "you." |
| Learning engineer | Learning Experience Designer. | “The teacher acted as a learning engineer to help us remember the new phrases.” | Learning Engineer. Refers to someone who no longer just imparts knowledge unidirectionally, but can design effective learning experiences with a practical, hands-on feel. |
| Neural connectivity | The strength of the connections between neurons in the brain. | “Active speaking practice improves neural connectivity for language learning.” | Neuro-connection. Refers to the connections between neurons when the brain learns a new skill. Active thinking and practice can strengthen these connections. |
| Resilience | Resilience. | “Building speaking resilience means not giving up when you forget a word.” | Resilience. Refers to the ability to not panic and continue trying when encountering setbacks or forgetting words during English communication. |
Ready to build a voice AI can't replace?
Book your one-on-one trial lesson with Michael today.
If you don’t feel more capable after our first session, you don’t have to pay.
English speaking practice, AI English learning, cognitive offloading, English conversation Taiwan, human connection in education, learning engineer, IMC English, Michael Cannon English coach
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