Google AI Launches New Language Practice Feature to Aid English Learners

Google is testing its AI listening skills, allowing users to practice English with a conversational AI robot by speaking into their phones. This speaking practice experience was first introduced by Google in October 2023, initially providing feedback only on spoken sentences. Now, users can engage in continuous conversations in the language they are learning.

According to reports, this feature is currently available only to Search Labs users in Argentina, Colombia, India, Mexico, Venezuela, and Indonesia. Search Labs is Google's sandbox for testing potential new search features, but this feature may also pop up when using Android devices for English translation or communication through Google.

The feedback and conversation practice feature primarily serves English learners at the moment. In its 2023 blog post, Google stated that search is a "valuable tool for language learners" as it provides translation, definition, and vocabulary search functions.

Unlike language learning apps like Duolingo, Babbel, and Pimsleur, Google has not set explicit courses or student progression systems. When introducing the speaking practice feature, Google mentioned that it not only helps learners practice but also assists them in finding the most appropriate vocabulary or verb forms in the context of a conversation. Despite Google's translation feature being around for many years, the company has been expanding the number of languages its AI models can understand.

AI-assisted language learning is not a new concept. Duolingo, a popular language learning app, added AI chatbots as early as 2016 and integrated GPT-4 in 2023. Another online language learning platform, Memrise, launched a GPT-3-based chatbot on Discord, allowing people to learn languages through conversation. Other language learning platforms also offer conversation practice, such as Pimsleur, which requires users to engage in role-playing dialogues with the application, prompting them to respond in the target language.