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 is 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 the sentences, your brain forgets how to do it.
For Taiwanese professionals, this creates a specific kind of anxiety. You might find yourself:
- Getting stuck 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. At 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) | Human Conversation (One-on-One) |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Instant. | Slower, with natural pauses. |
| Accuracy | High (Grammar/Vocab). | 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 are 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 a 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 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 3-step process to stay in control:
- Draft first: 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 “not like 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
Imagine you are at an airport and your flight is delayed. You need to negotiate with a staff member.
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 late, 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 are 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 one in the driver’s seat.
If you are 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 | 中文說明 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cognitive offloading | Using tools (like AI) to do the mental work your brain should be doing. | “Relying only on ChatGPT for emails is a form of cognitive offloading.” | 指的是過度依賴工具（如 AI）來處理大腦本該思考的工作，可能導致思考能力退化。 |
| 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.” | 借用電腦術語，指溝通中不可或缺的人類特質（如同理心、判斷力），這是 AI 無法取代的核心能力。 |
| 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.” | 指察言觀色、感受現場氣氛。在商務溝通中，這比單純的翻譯更重要。 |
| Read 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.” | 察覺猶豫。在口說練習中，教練能發現你的停頓並給予鼓勵，這正是 AI 目前做不到的。 |
| Ownership | Feeling that your words and ideas truly belong to you. | “If the AI writes everything, you lose ownership of your personal message.” | 這裡指對自己表達內容的掌控感與認同感，確保說出的話代表「你自己」。 |
| Learning engineer | A person who designs effective and memorable learning experiences. | “The teacher acted as a learning engineer to help us remember the new phrases.” | 學習工程師。指不再只是單向傳授知識，而是能設計出有效、且具備實戰感學習體驗的人。 |
| Neural connectivity | The strength of the connections between neurons in the brain. | “Active speaking practice improves neural connectivity for language learning.” | 神經連結。指大腦學習新技能時神經元間的聯繫，主動思考與練習能強化這種連結。 |
| Resilience | The ability to recover quickly from difficulties or mistakes. | “Building speaking resilience means not giving up when you forget a word.” | 韌性/復原力。指在英文溝通遇到挫折或忘詞時，能不慌張並繼續嘗試的能力。 |
Ready to build a voice that 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.
英文口說練習, AI English learning, cognitive offloading, English conversation Taiwan, human connection in education, learning engineer, IMC English, Michael Cannon English coach
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