THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY IN THE AI ERA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51878/academia.v6i4.12880Keywords:
Kemahiran Bahasa Inggris, Lingkungan Kerja Berbasis AI, Keterampilan Kerja, Tenaga Kerja DigitalAbstract
The integration of artificial intelligence technologies has sparked scholarly debate regarding the necessity of human linguistic competence across globalized labor sectors. This study aims to examine employers’ institutional perceptions of the importance of English language proficiency in enhancing employment opportunities amid the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence. Employing a qualitative case study design, empirical data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with organizational leaders across four sectors: education, healthcare, public service, and banking. The thematic findings demonstrate that English remains an indispensable core competency across all examined industries, functioning alongside digital infrastructures. The education and banking sectors position English as a fundamental recruitment criterion, whereas healthcare and public service view it as a contextually valuable skill. Rather than rendering linguistic expertise obsolete, artificial intelligence tools serve as assistive mechanisms that demand active human proficiency for optimal operational prompt engineering. This study establishes that English language mastery remains a strategic socio-economic asset, reinforcing workforce competitiveness and expanding institutional career mobility in an increasingly automated global knowledge economy.
ABSTRAK
Integrasi teknologi kecerdasan buatan telah memicu perdebatan akademis mengenai pentingnya kompetensi linguistik manusia di berbagai sektor ketenagakerjaan global. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji persepsi institusional pemberi kerja mengenai pentingnya kemahiran berbahasa Inggris dalam meningkatkan peluang kerja di tengah pesatnya perkembangan kecerdasan buatan. Dengan menggunakan desain studi kasus kualitatif, data empiris dikumpulkan melalui wawancara semi-terstruktur dengan para pemimpin organisasi di empat sektor: pendidikan, layanan kesehatan, layanan publik, dan perbankan. Temuan tematis menunjukkan bahwa bahasa Inggris tetap menjadi kompetensi inti yang tak tergantikan di seluruh industri yang diteliti, serta berperan berdampingan dengan infrastruktur digital. Sektor pendidikan dan perbankan menempatkan bahasa Inggris sebagai kriteria perekrutan yang mendasar, sementara sektor layanan kesehatan dan layanan publik memandangnya sebagai keterampilan yang bernilai secara kontekstual. Alih-alih membuat keahlian linguistik menjadi usang, perangkat kecerdasan buatan justru berfungsi sebagai mekanisme pendukung yang menuntut kemahiran aktif manusia demi optimalisasi prompt engineering dalam operasional. Penelitian ini menegaskan bahwa penguasaan bahasa Inggris tetap menjadi aset sosial-ekonomi yang strategis, yang memperkuat daya saing tenaga kerja serta memperluas mobilitas karier institusional dalam ekonomi pengetahuan global yang semakin terotomatisasi.
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