Will AI kill English classes? Chinese university to drop them as tech booms

Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology will phase out standard English courses by 2026, replacing them with intercultural communication classes, citing the effectiveness of AI-powered real-time translation tools. Provost Zhao Wei announced the curriculum change in a July 2 video, arguing that technology now bridges language barriers without requiring fluency.

Will AI kill English classes? Chinese university to drop them as tech booms The institution will replace English lessons with intercultural communication courses as translation tools bridge language barriers Dannie Peng /author/dannie-peng in Beijing English classes https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3194439/chinese-lawmakers-call-schools-spend-less-time-teaching-english?module=inline&pgtype=article , citing the ability of artificial intelligence https://www.scmp.com/topics/artificial-intelligence?module=inline&pgtype=article?module=inline&pgtype=article AI translators to bridge language barriers in real time. In a video posted to the university’s social media account on July 2, Zhao Wei, the provost of Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology SUAT , announced that the institution would do away with standard English courses in favour of classes that emphasised cross-cultural skills. engage with people overseas https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344091/why-chinese-universities-are-ditching-language-degrees-strategic-regional-expertise?module=inline&pgtype=article with confidence and poise. “If you apply to SUAT in 2026, we will be running the experimental curriculum , which will gradually phase out university English and replace it with intercultural communication courses,” Zhao said. He said that technological progress, particularly real-time translation tools, allowed people to communicate effectively even if they did not know each other’s language. “Today, I don’t need to understand English at all,” Zhao said. “You can speak in English, and the translation comes through my earphones in Chinese. I can speak Chinese, and your earphones may receive it in Spanish. Real-time translation has become impressively effective.”