Can a ‘smart pill ‘ be an answer to language learning?

Recently a panel of British experts has discussed the issue of medically enhanced education. Could ‘smart drugs’ be the needed and wanted solution to language learning? Would you take a ‘smart pill’ if it was offered to you? Would it be ethically acceptable to do so? These and many more questions were discussed during a recent debate hosted by the British Academy and the Guardian.

The majority of people in the audience confessed to using caffeinated coffee or nicotine to remain awake and alert throughout the day as well as to sustain attention when dealing with important tasks; they also admitted that they would use a ‘smart pill’ to help them learn a foreign language.

However, some experts noted that language does not solely test your cognitive ability; learning a language is a discovery, it involves the ability to appreciate and understand a foreign culture, history and traditions, it means establishing a human connection with others.

Learning a language is not just about a cognitive ability, it requires many other social and motivational skills that a ‘smart pill’ will not be able to improve. After all, maybe we should stop looking for shortcuts and accept the fact that sometimes all we need to do is work a bit harder at certain things in order to achieve success.