Human capabilities remain essential amid accelerating technological change

Leading educators have emphasized that foreign language education in the artificial intelligence era should not focus on competing with machines, but on cultivating graduates who combine linguistic expertise with technological literacy, cultural understanding and the ability to navigate an interconnected world.

Speaking at a keynote roundtable during the 2026 Global English Education China Assembly, deans of foreign language schools at leading Chinese universities said the discipline is undergoing transformation rather than decline.

"The question is not whether foreign language education is entering a difficult period," said Chen Jing, dean of the College of Foreign Languages and Cultures at Xiamen University in Fujian province. "The real question is whether the traditional model of training language specialists has reached its limits."

Her view was echoed by Gao Yongwei, dean of the College of Foreign Languages and Literatures at Fudan University in Shanghai.

"The period of rapid expansion has passed," Gao said. "What is changing is not the value of foreign languages, but the traditional model centered solely on language proficiency."

Educators said AI is accelerating the shift toward interdisciplinary education while also making uniquely human capabilities increasingly valuable.

Routine tasks such as translation, proofreading, vocabulary explanation and document organization can increasingly be handled by AI, they said. However, machines cannot replace human judgment in interpreting cultures, building trust, understanding historical context or making ethical decisions.

"The more advanced technology becomes, the more important humanistic education becomes," Chen said. "AI can generate language, but it cannot generate values."

Wu Xia, dean of Tsinghua University's Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, said large language models cannot fully grasp the history, cultural perspectives and emotional context behind different civilizations, making human empathy and judgment indispensable for international communication.

Despite AI's growing capabilities, language proficiency remains the foundation of the discipline, said He Ning, dean of the School of Foreign Studies at Nanjing University in Jiangsu province.

"The core that can never be abandoned is foreign language competence," he said. "Without that, the discipline loses its reason for existence."

At the same time, graduates must be able to apply their language skills in cross-cultural settings and communicate China's stories effectively to the world, He added.

To adapt to changing demands, universities are redesigning foreign language programs around interdisciplinary learning.

At Fudan, the college has launched dual master's degree programs combining foreign languages with computer science and other disciplines, as well as an eight-year bachelor's-to-doctoral program in data linguistics.

Nanjing University is expanding dual-degree programs linking German with law and English with electronics engineering. Students are also encouraged to pursue minors and electives across both the humanities and science disciplines.

Rather than adopting a standardized "foreign language plus X" model, Tsinghua University has taken a more personalized approach.

Wu said each student follows an individualized academic plan, with AI tools integrated throughout the curriculum. The department also collaborates with other schools to combine language education with fields such as international governance and global communication.

Educators said employers increasingly favor graduates who combine strong language skills with expertise in another discipline and the ability to apply both in practical settings.

The demand for traditional language-related positions is shrinking, while opportunities are expanding in emerging fields requiring interdisciplinary knowledge and international competence, they said.

Many foreign language graduates from China's leading universities go on to postgraduate study or careers in international organizations, diplomacy and other globally oriented sectors.

zhaoyimeng@chinadaily.com.cn