October Observations

Visiting a country without being able to speak the language can be a highly awkward experience. Seemingly simple tasks back home, like taking a taxi to reach a destination and ordering food at a restaurant, suddenly become complex endeavors, and it feels hard to interact with the local population or connect with the environment. These challenges often disincentivize individuals from visiting certain countries, as one-third of Americans surveyed internationally admit they stick to holiday destinations where a language barrier will not be a major concern.

Well, Apple has recently proposed a solution to this problem: live translation. This feature has been enabled not only on iPhones during calls but also on AirPods during in-person conversations. The intention is that, as someone speaks to you in another language, the AirPods will automatically translate what you hear, allowing you to understand it. Then, if the other speaker is also wearing AirPods, they can listen to a translated version of your response and continue the conversation. If the other speaker doesn’t have AirPods, the feature is still effective as your iPhone will display your responses with the text translated into their language, maintaining the conversation. The impacts of this technology extend beyond interpersonal interactions in travel contexts: it could affect entire sectors by preventing issues from miscommunication with customers and enable those less familiar with English or the primary language of their country to access more opportunities. Yet, it is important to note that the technology is still not perfect. Depending on the speed at which you talk and the specific vocabulary you use, especially more ambiguous language, individuals who have tested the translation tool have reported common inaccuracies, such as random swear words being inserted and descriptive words being confused. Hence, there is still room for growth and improvement in this technology.

Despite this, it is safe to say that the development is predominantly beneficial for most individuals. But, it leaves me with some questions.

How will real-time translation tools shape people’s impressions of the importance of learning languages? Will they no longer see the value in doing so? Or, will they still feel motivated to do so and view these tools as a supporting resource, the same way the field of mathematics continued to thrive even after the invention of calculators? Personally, I have always found that learning languages is beneficial not only for practical uses. It is an inherently fun process. Whether it is during language classes at school or on Duolingo, learning new words, comparing how syntax and grammar differ across languages and discovering specific idioms that exist in one language but not another feels like a puzzle to be decoded. Moreover, language is more than pure communication: it is a gateway into cultural understanding. So, although real-time translation may help people get by in new countries, I believe that attempting to learn the local language is the way to truly immerse yourself in its vibrant culture. I have felt this during all of my own travel experiences, whether speaking Mandarin in Taipei or French in Montreal and Paris.

All in all, while the progress being made with real-time translation technology is truly remarkable, and I look forward to testing this feature myself soon, I hope it does not prevent individuals from appreciating the beauty of learning new languages and the unique benefits that it offers. 

Credit: Daniel Seifert (BBC)

Works Cited

Apple. “Use Live Translation with Your AirPods.” Apple Support, 17 Sept. 2025, support.apple.com/en-ca/123185. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.

Carey, Bridget. “My In-Laws Helped Me Put Apple’s Live Translation to the Ultimate Test.” CNET, 26 Sept. 2025, www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/i-tested-airpods-live-translation-with-my-family-heres-what-i-learned/. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.

“IPhone 17 Real-Time Translation: 3 Amazing Features You Need.” Transync AI, 11 Sept. 2025, www.transyncai.com/blog-iphone-17-real-time-translation/. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.

Seifert, Daniel. “How Real-Time Translation Could Transform Travel – and What We Might Lose.” BBC, 3 Oct. 2025, www.bbc.com/travel/article/20251001-how-real-time-translation-could-transform-travel. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.