4 Ways to Use AI to Boost Your Speaking Skills in Any Language

Talking to AI can help you improve your speaking skills. Photo by Emmanuel Ikwuegbu on Unsplash

The linguist Paul Pimsleur wrote, “A language is above all speech. A language that isn’t spoken is called dead.” His point? To keep a language alive, you have to speak it.

But what if you don’t have anybody to talk to? Or you get nervous when you finally have the chance? How do you keep your second (or third) language alive, then?

You practice speaking with AI!

In this post, we’ll show you how to talk to AI when you don’t have a speaking partner to practice with, and share four simple ways to get started – plus a few helpful tips!  

How Talking to AI Works (and why it’s great for language learners)

Gemini and ChatGPT are AI chatbots you can talk to. Photo by Saradasish Pradhan on Unsplash

To be clear: You can talk to AI, not just type! Instead of writing messages, you can speak, just like in a real conversation. Your chatbot will listen, understand, and respond out loud in a way that sounds surprisingly human-like.

Is it the same as talking to a human? Not 100%. There can be short delays, and you can’t go on forever – there’s a time limit to conversations. 

But it has its advantages. It’s always available, day or night. It never gets impatient. Best of all, it doesn’t judge – so you can practice without feeling shy or worried about making mistakes! If you ask, AI can even correct your pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary.

Curious to try it out? There are a few AI chatbots that let you practice speaking. Right now, the best options are ChatGPT (web, Android and iOS) and Google Gemini (Android and iOS only). Next, we’ll show you how to start talking to them.

How to Talk to ChatGPT (web, mobile) and Google Gemini (app) 

Speaking to ChatGPT is AI language learning at its best. Photo by Solen Feyissa on Unsplash 

Here’s how to start a voice conversation with ChatGPT and Gemini.

ChatGPT

1. Go to https://chatgpt.com/ or open the ChatGPT app on your phone. 

2. Tap the microphone icon in the bottom-right corner of the chat box and start speaking.

3. To end the conversation, press “X.”

Keep in mind:

• ChatGPT transcribes the conversation and lets you replay its responses.

• You can interrupt ChatGPT to ask a question or switch topics.

Voice mode on ChatGPT

Gemini Live

1. Open the Gemini app on your phone. 

2. Tap the sparkle icon (Live button) in the bottom right corner to start speaking.

3. To pause the conversation, tap the pause button; to end it, press “X.” 

Keep in mind:

• Gemini transcribes what you say and lets you replay its responses.

• You can interrupt Gemini to ask a question or change the topic. 

Live button on the Gemini app

A Few Ideas To Get You Started

Now that you know how to talk to AI, here are some fun ways to practice speaking.

1) Ask AI a question

Start with a simple question, like:

• “What is…?” (e.g., “What is global warming?”)

• “Tell me about…” (e.g., “Tell me about Carnival in Düsseldorf.”)

• “How do I…?” (e.g., “How do I make feijoada?)

To keep the conversation going, ask follow-up questions:

• “Should I be worried?”

• “Is Carnival in Germany feminist?”

• “What does refogar mean?”  

Try it now: Ask AI about something you’re curious about. Can you keep the conversation going for two minutes? 

Transcribed voice chat in ChatGPT

2) Ask AI to ask you a question

Let AI take the lead! Say something like: 

“Ask me about my cat/family/upcoming trip/plans for the weekend.” 

This is an easy way to start a conversation because the AI will keep asking you follow-up questions on its own. 

Try it now: Ask AI to interview you about something.  

Transcribed voice chat in ChatGPT

3) Dictate to AI

This is a great way to test your pronunciation. You can: 

• Read a poem out loud. (If it’s famous, AI will notice any differences between your version and the original.) 

• Say a list of words or phrases and check if AI understands.

Try it now: Say, “I am going to say a list of words/recite a poem. Please wait until I’m finished before responding. Don’t interrupt me.” Then, read a short poem or dictate a word list and see if AI gets it right.

4) Play a game with AI

Talking to AI doesn’t have to be just small talk – you can play games too, like our club favorite, “20 Questions.”

(Want to see “20 Questions” in action? Get a demo and explore more fun AI language-learning activities inside the AI Language Club – join for just $9/month!)

Here’s how it works: 

• One person thinks of an object, an animal, or a famous person. 

• The other asks yes/no questions to guess what it is. 

Try it now: Tell the AI you want to play “20 Questions.” Guess what it’s thinking of, then switch roles!

Transcribed voice chat in Gemini

Tips for Talking to AI

Here’s how to get the most out of your AI speaking practice.

1. Tell AI how you want to practice
   Before you start, let AI know what you need. Do you want it to correct your grammar and pronunciation? Should it wait until you finish speaking before responding? Do you want to role-play? AI wants to meet your needs – so feel free to be specific! If it’s easier, you can type your instructions first, then start speaking.

2. Try different types of AI
   Explore different AI chatbots to find what works best for you. You might find that one is better for certain things, or that switching between them helps you get more out of your practice.

3. Customize AI to your needs

If AI’s responses feel too fast, too formal, or too complex, ask it to adjust. You can say:

• “Repeat.”

• “Speak slower.”

• “Sound more casual.”

• “Use simpler words.”

You can also tell it your language level (e.g., “I’m intermediate”) so it adapts to you.

Pro tip: Want ChatGPT to have a specific personality? Tap your profile avatar and go to Settings > Personalization > Custom instructions. Under “What traits should ChatGPT have?”, describe how you want it to behave (e.g., “encouraging”).

4. Balance your AI practice with human interaction. 

AI is a great tool for practicing speaking skills, but it’s not a replacement for a language tutor or coach, or real human friends. Use it to build confidence and prepare for real-life conversations!

AI: Your Convenient Speaking Partner

AI isn’t just for writing – it’s a conversation partner that talks back. You can discuss anything, from everyday topics to niche interests, and even role-play situations tailored to your language level. Best of all, you can practice anywhere, anytime! 

So, if you want to boost your speaking skills and gain confidence for real-world conversations, start practicing with AI today!

And if you’re looking for even more ways to use AI to take charge of your language learning, join the AI Language Club! You’ll get exclusive tutorials, fun challenges, and a community of forward-thinking language learners to cheer you on.