LG CNS offers AI-powered language programs to Seoul students

LG CNS CEO Kim Young-shub, left, and Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon pose after signing a memorandum of understanding for the former to provide AI-powered language learning programs to students in Seoul, at LG CNS' headquarters in western Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of LG CNS

By Kim Bo-eun

LG CNS is set to offer artificial intelligence (AI) powered language learning programs to students in Seoul in partnership with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE). Under the partnership, about 800,000 elementary, middle and high school students will be able to study English with the programs both in regular classes and through extracurricular activities.

LG's IT service firm will provide its "AI Tutor" and "Speaking Class" programs free of charge to 1,300 schools in the capital. AI Tutor is a smartphone app-based English learning program, with 760,000 users. A total of 150 companies, including LG affiliates, are using the app for employees to learn foreign languages. LG CNS is also selling its AI Tutor service to language teaching firms YBMNET and Pagoda. The app became the first AI-based English learning program to receive certification from the Korea Associate of Teachers of English earlier this year.

Speaking Class is a platform with which teachers can create English learning programs with AI conversation algorithms and voice recognition technology. The AI-powered platform creates problems for students to solve, saving teachers time. Teachers do not require coding skills to use the platform effectively.

Speaking Class analyzes student data to provide information on how much the student has progressed. The data enables students to experience tailored learning based on their performance. When a student takes longer to answer a question or if they answer incorrectly AI technology analyzes the students' weaknesses and provides tips for improvement.

LG CNS is also developing an AI Tutor app with the Seoul education office to help children of multi-racial families learn Korean.

"This will serve as an opportunity for AI to be introduced in the public education sphere," LG CNS CEO Kim was quoted as saying in a press release.