AI Language Learning with Busuu Conversations

AI language learning is now on Busuu with the introduction of the new Conversations feature!

The new smart, adaptive Conversations feature will give language learners the power to practice speaking out loud anytime they want with a built-in partner. The feature offers immersive, dynamic conversations tailored to each learners’ language level and built around lesson content, plus personalized feedback at the end of each conversation.

Applying artificial intelligence in language learning allows Busuu not just to adapt to changing technology and keep up with the times but to respond to user feedback requesting more opportunities for speaking practice in a low pressure, educational environment.

Dynamic, real-time conversations with an AI counterpart using Busuu Conversations mean endless opportunities for users to practice and grow their spoken language skills in a judgment-free space. The conversations are designed to replicate real life, focusing on specific scenarios like booking an appointment or ordering at a restaurant and helping learners build speaking confidence through practical, interactive practice.

How does AI contribute to better language learning and improved conversations?

You might be wondering whether using AI to learn a language is a good idea at all. We’re excited about this new feature and would be glad to tell you all about it!

Opportunities to make mistakes

When you learn a language as a child, whether at home or in school, you’re given lots of opportunities to work on your speaking skills.

Unfortunately, as adult learners, we often don’t have a classroom or home environment to experiment in and improve. Studies show that one of the top concerns of language learners is overcoming the anxiety of using a new language in the real world, at work or while traveling, where the stakes can feel higher if you make a mistake.

Addressing key problems for language learners

When surveyed, language learners on Busuu said their number one problem was not having someone to practice with.

Ideally, every person learning a language would have a patient and kind tutor they could call up any time to help them work on their spoken language, but that’s simply not the way the world works. After all, an on-call tutor for every learner would be very expensive, and wouldn’t be thrilled after one too many late-night calls!

However, at Busuu, we’ve worked to help alleviate this problem in a few ways.

Solving the practice problem

The first is having learners practice repeating and speaking out loud during their lessons in simple solo recordings. This gets learners speaking out loud in a controlled environment from the get-go.

The second way that Busuu addresses language learning anxiety is by sending a small number of learners’ spoken and written exercises out to the Busuu Community for feedback from other learners. This asks learners to come up with unique spoken or written responses and helps them start to overcome the fear of speaking to others in small doses.

Now, we’ve added Conversations. It’s like a built-in speaking practice partner who’s available at any time to chat with you and give you linguistic feedback on what you say. It’s something that wouldn’t be possible without AI and will, for many users, dramatically improve their language learning experience.

What makes Conversations so great

The Busuu Conversations AI integration is uniquely helpful because it is:

• Leveled based on the learner’s CEFR level (A1-C1)
• Built to support Busuu’s language lessons so you can directly apply what you’re learning
• Focused by topic so you can role-play real-life scenarios like calling a doctor’s office or talking to a manager at work.

In short, artificial intelligence will make better language learning available to more people. Busuu’s AI-integrated Conversations feature in particular is ahead of the pack in offering not just AI, but AI tailored to work for you as a language learner and to help build on what you’re already learning.

Worth noting: Not sure you’re comfortable with AI? When you’re first prompted to use Conversations, you’ll have the option to review our Privacy Policy. Your voice will be recorded and saved to help train the LLM but will not be used to uniquely identify you.

How AI language learning can help you improve your conversation skills

Let’s dive into the nitty gritty of how Busuu’s new AI-integrated features can make learning better for you.

1. Prepare for real life

Busuu’s new AI-powered Conversations feature helps better prepare you for real-life conversations.

First, each conversation is based on a topic and everyday, real-world scenario. That means you’ll work on role-playing interactions like asking for directions, participating in a work meeting, or talking about dishes at a restaurant, meaning fewer trip-ups and mistakes. You can build skills you’ll actually need, and since the chat is interactive and dynamic, you can take it in a new direction, try different things, and practice fresh scenarios over and over.

Second, because the conversation isn’t following a set script or fill-in-the-blanks process, you have the opportunity to actually think on your feet. With unexpected prompts and responses, you can learn to apply all the pieces of language you’ve been learning so you can express yourself more organically and build true fluency.

2. Converse at your level

One of the many reasons speaking a new language can be so anxiety-inducing is the very real possibility that the person you’re speaking with might misjudge your proficiency level and start speaking quickly and using advanced vocabulary you’ve never heard before. Because when you speak with people in the real world, they don’t have instructions to keep the conversation at an A2 level.

When you practice speaking with Busuu’s Conversations set in your timeline, on the other hand, the AI automatically communicates with you at your CEFR proficiency level as determined by your current lesson level on Busuu. The AI will be using exercises, vocabulary, and topics that you’ve learned – so you never find yourself dropped in the deep end without a floatie.

That means you can focus on developing level-appropriate skills in a low-pressure environment.

3. Get real-time feedback

Asking a friend for feedback on how you order a coffee could be awkward. Turning in a test, you might not get feedback for days, and when you do, it might not include much specific, personalized explanation (that would be a lot to ask of any teacher!).

When you use Conversations to practice you get clear and concise feedback right away to help you learn and improve on the spot – no awkwardness about it.

When you finish a conversation on Busuu, the AI automatically analyzes your responses and shares corrections where applicable, along with short, clear explanations of those corrections.

4. Practice anytime

Using AI to learn language means you’re not tethered to a class schedule or designated meet-up times for language learning groups. While human connection is never a bad thing in learning, adding AI conversation practice means more opportunities to practice and grow and makes it easier for you to keep learning and growing your skills on your own schedule.

Using AI to learn a language is for everyone

Artificial intelligence in language learning might sound complicated, but with Busuu, it’s easy to put this new tech to work for you so you can reach your goals faster.

For workers

With Busuu, you can learn in bite-sized lessons on your commute or during your lunch break (with a WiFi connection). And if your goal is to get a certain job or find success at work, you can focus your speaking practice on work-related topics. Conversations available for workplace situations (depending on the language you’re learning) include taking part in a job interview, resolving conflicts at work, making phone calls, and more.

For expats

If you’re in a new country and motivated to learn a new language as quickly as possible, there’s no need to wait for a weekly class or a practice buddy – with Busuu, you can learn as fast as you can fit the lessons into your schedule. And even if speaking practice has to happen at odd hours, you always have someone to practice with in Conversations’ AI.

Learn to talk about yourself, your past, and your reasons for learning a language, or to do essential tasks like open a bank account, make a doctor’s appointment, and describe medical symptoms.

For students

Whether you’re looking to boost your studies and do better on an upcoming test or want to cram to qualify for more advanced courses down the line, Busuu can help you build the skills you’ll need to succeed.

With Busuu, speaking practice can happen around extracurricular activities and can work with your studies at any level – whether that means advanced topics like discussing culture or basics like introducing yourself and talking about education and friends.

For travelers

Hitting the road? Busuu can help you prepare for common scenarios and build confidence so you can jump in feet first to a new culture. Use Busuu Conversations to role-play common activities like buying clothes, ordering at a restaurant, making plans with new friends, and making reservations.

And with Busuu Premium, you can keep practicing on the road and even access downloaded language lessons offline. That means you can keep learning until the moment you step off the plane.

Benefits of using Busuu Conversations to learn language with AI

* Built-in speaking partner

No more wishing for someone to help you practice speaking. Conversations are available anytime, anywhere with internet access!, Conversations cover tons of everyday topics, and each discussion is unique.

* Improved confidence

Get more practical speaking practice with role-plays that recreate real-world scenarios. Conversations help you build your speaking confidence and get feedback on your progress. That way, you’ll know you’re ready when it’s time for the real thing.

* Increased fluency

Improvised speaking practice helps you take what you’ve learned and figure out how to apply it to new situations. Scripts and rote memorization may help build grammar and vocabulary, but unplanned speaking helps build true fluency.

Busuu Conversations is the best AI-integrated tool for improving conversations

As you can see, there are many reasons to be excited about the new AI-integrated Busuu Conversations feature. Let’s take another look at everything there is to love.

• Busuu Conversations is easy to use. Simply click the ‘Speak’ tab or open a ‘Conversations’ lesson in your main lesson timeline and start chatting.

• The Conversations feature integrates AI in 3 key ways to make learning better. The Conversations feature goes beyond simple practice with a chatbot. With Conversations, you get dynamic and unique speaking practice, a speaking partner that works with you at your level and role-plays relevant to the situations and topics you're learning, plus personalized feedback to help you grow.

• Busuu Conversations solves a key problem for language learners. We’re using AI to make better language learning more accessible to more people. We can’t all have a tutor on speed dial, but with Conversations, you have a knowledgeable speaking practice partner at your beck and call.

• There are tons of benefits to Busuu Conversations. Using Busuu Conversations can help you build confidence and fluency faster on your schedule.

• No matter what your reason for learning, Busuu Conversations can work for you. Tons of topics and dynamic, immersive conversations mean you can focus on developing the speaking skills you need most for your unique situation.

• Busuu Conversations is only the tip of the language-learning iceberg. Conversations is making Busuu even better, but Busuu already offers top-notch lessons designed by experts and loved by learners like you. With speaking practice, Community Corrections, and Conversations, learning with Busuu means lots of pressure-free practice and better speaking skills. It’s no wonder Busuu is the go-to app for learning to truly speak a language!

Busuu is an award-winning language-learning platform with a wonderful Community of millions of language learners like you. And now it’s even better, thanks to the introduction of Busuu Conversations! This exciting new tool leverages cutting-edge LLM technology plus tried-and-true language learning methods to help you learn better. And it’s only going to get better from here.

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