Rethinking “What’s the answer?” and instead asking, “What’s the question?”

There’s a popular TikTok where a man answers the common question, “¿Hablas español?” with:“That depends—do you speak Spanish? Because if you don’t, my Spanish is going to sound great. But if you do… we might have a problem.”

He goes on to explain the difference between being able to use Spanish in casual social situations versus high-stakes scenarios like “translating for you in court.” Watch the full video here.

This tension reminds me of one of the biggest concerns in education right now: using AI tools to answer questions, often at the expense of developing students’ critical thinking. Over time, this can limit cognitive growth.

At SXSW EDU, futurist and tech advocate Sinead Bovell shared that the real issue isn’t whether we use AI—it’s how we use it. She stressed the importance of helping students understand the questions they’re asking, as well as the limitations and scope of the answers AI can provide. Bovell encouraged a shift in educational focus—from simply asking, “What’s the answer?” to more critically asking, “What’s the question?”

Traditional learning models that prioritize rote memorization and single “right” answers are most at risk. In those classrooms, students can easily plug questions into an AI platform, copy the standard response, and submit it, while teachers scramble to stay ahead of a tool that’s not being used with intention.

But classrooms that center inquiry and critical thinking? They have a unique opportunity. In these models, students explore how to ask better questions and why a variety of answers might exist. Bovell encourages us to focus not just on the questions themselves, but on the quality of those questions.

Think about real-life conversations:
Basic questions lead to basic answers.
“Where are you from?” “What do you do?” — you’ve heard these replies a thousand times.

But more intentional, reflective questions dig deeper.
“What are your goals this year?”
“Did anything surprise you this weekend?”
Now you’re getting somewhere.

So how does this connect to language?

Besides the fact that Google Translate has been the nemesis of language teachers for years 😅—AI is just the newest tool that can shortcut the learning process and make learners feel like they’re progressing efficiently. But real learning? That depends on the questions you’re asking.

If you want to rethink your approach to language learning, try asking yourself:

✨ What languages do you speak—and how does your background shape the way you speak them?
✨ What languages do you want to practice—and why?
✨ What do you hope to do with the language?
✨ How much time can you commit to that goal?

Most common answer I hear?
“I want to be fluent—ASAP—so I can speak without making mistakes.”
But here’s the reality: even being “fluent” won’t prepare you for every situation.

Speaking English with friends your whole life won’t automatically prepare you to communicate clearly in an emergency room with medical professionals.

Also, there’s a big difference between improving grammar to meet standard norms versus learning to embrace language diversity—accents, dialects, and regional vocabulary.

Being clear about what you want to do with a language helps you pinpoint where you can fine-tune your skills and where you have space to play, improvise, and bring your unique voice into it.

And of course, as you learn, you’ll encounter people with lots of opinions about your language ability (even though it’s none of their business). But when you understand your why and trust your process, it becomes a lot easier to handle those unsolicited comments with clarity and confidence.

If you’re curious about how I’m thinking through these questions, revising my goals, and building a language plan that feels doable, kind, and realistic, join me on May 26, 2025, for a virtual session: 🎯 “3 Simple Steps to Language Planning”

✨ Learn more and sign up at LUPATalks.com

🤟🏼Dr. Xiomara Rivera Pagán