Ask HN: What's one thing ChatGPT can't help with when learning English?

#1

Post by sashaonly » Mon, May 12, 2025, 2:18 PM UTC

I’m working with several non-native tech founders who are building globally but still run into difficulties — especially when speaking socially or presenting on stage. ChatGPT helps a lot, but it often misses the mark on tone, nuance, or how something feels to say. I’m trying to understand what still feels hard — not grammatically, but emotionally, socially, or situationally.

What’s one moment when you wished ChatGPT-like tool could help — but knew it couldn’t?

Re: Ask HN: What's one thing ChatGPT can't help with when learning English?

#2

Post by billconan » Mon, May 12, 2025, 2:29 PM UTC

As a non-native speaker, my issue with using ChatGPT is that it fosters my cognitive miser rather than help me improve my skills.

Re: Ask HN: What's one thing ChatGPT can't help with when learning English?

#3

Post by sashaonly » Mon, May 12, 2025, 2:34 PM UTC

billconan wrote: post #2

As a non-native speaker, my issue with using ChatGPT is that it fosters my cognitive miser rather than help me improve my skills.

Curious — when you mention becoming a "cognitive miser," do you mean it makes you rely too heavily on ChatGPT rather than developing your intuition? Or is it more about losing practice opportunities for real-world conversations? Could you share an example of a situation where you felt this happening most strongly?

Re: Ask HN: What's one thing ChatGPT can't help with when learning English?

#4

Post by billconan » Mon, May 12, 2025, 4:16 PM UTC

sashaonly wrote: post #3

billconan wrote: post #2

As a non-native speaker, my issue with using ChatGPT is that it fosters my cognitive miser rather than help me improve my skills.

Curious — when you mention becoming a "cognitive miser," do you mean it makes you rely too heavily on ChatGPT rather than developing your intuition? Or is it more about losing practice opportunities for real-world conversations? Could you share an example of a situation where you felt this happening most strongly?

For example, say I want to send an email, I skip the cognitive process of organizing and articulating my thoughts and double checking my grammar. Instead, I write sketchy bullets and ask ChatGPT to do the work.

In the end, my own writing skills have been degrading, I don't know how to write anymore without AI.

Re: Ask HN: What's one thing ChatGPT can't help with when learning English?

#5

Post by twiv » Mon, May 12, 2025, 7:11 PM UTC

billconan wrote: post #4

sashaonly wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Curious — when you mention becoming a "cognitive miser," do you mean it makes you rely too heavily on ChatGPT rather than developing your intuition? Or is it more about losing practice opportunities for real-world conversations? Could you share an example of a situation where you felt this happening most strongly?

For example, say I want to send an email, I skip the cognitive process of organizing and articulating my thoughts and double checking my grammar. Instead, I write sketchy bullets and ask ChatGPT to do the work. In the end, my own writing skills have been degrading, I don't know how to write anymore without AI.

I'm a native, but I was talking with someone a little while back who echoed that sentiment. For him, it was all about avoiding degradation and feeling like he could sound "like myself" in English.