Learn a language with AI: practice, translation and its limits

Learn in your browser · Chapter 01 of 06

Yes, an AI chatbot can help a great deal, as long as you know what it is good at and where it trips up. This chapter shows you how to start a chat, choose a realistic goal and level, and decide where AI fits next to apps, classes and teachers. It also covers what to keep out of the chat before you type anything.

What you need. A phone, tablet or computer, and a general-purpose chatbot: an AI tool you talk to by typing (or speaking) into a message box. Many have a free version, and most work in a web browser or as an app. This course does not name products, because they change often. The steps below work in most of them.

1. Open the chatbot in your browser or app, and sign in if it asks you to.
2. Find the message box. It is usually at the bottom of the screen and may say something like 'Ask anything' or 'Message'.
3. Type your request, or paste one of the prompts from this course, then press Enter or tap the arrow (send) button.
4. Read the answer, then reply in the same chat. The AI uses the earlier messages in that chat as context, so you can simply say 'slower', 'simpler' or 'again, please'.
5. Start a new chat when you change topic (look for 'New chat' or a pencil icon), so old instructions do not get mixed in.

Choose your level honestly. Language levels are often described with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which runs from A1 (beginner) to C2 [S17]. The Europass self-assessment grids describe each level with 'I can' statements for listening, reading, spoken interaction, spoken production and writing [S17]. At A1 listening, for example, the grid begins 'I can recognise familiar words and very basic phrases concerning myself' [S17]. Read the grid for the skill you care about most and pick the level where most statements are already true for you. Then tell the AI that level in every practice prompt.

Set a goal you can test. 'Learn Spanish' is too vague to plan. 'Order food, ask for directions and talk about my family in Spanish by my holiday on [date]' is a goal. Write it down with a date and the three or four situations you most need. Then plan short, regular sessions. Short, regular sessions, such as fifteen to twenty minutes on most days, are easier for many people to keep up than one long session a week, and you can always add more. This is a practical suggestion, not a research result.

I am learning [language]. My level is [A1, A2, B1 or B2].
My goal is to [two or three situations] by [date].
I have [number] minutes a day.
Before you suggest anything, ask me two questions about my needs.
Then suggest a weekly plan with short daily practice and two review days.
Keep your answers short and use simple English.

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What one research review found. A meta-analysis (a study that combines the results of many studies), published online in May 2023, pooled 24 randomised studies (people were put into groups by chance) of AI chatbots in education generally, not only languages, so it cannot cover the newest tools. It found a large overall effect on learning outcomes, but shorter interventions showed stronger effects than longer ones, and the authors suggest the novelty of a chatbot may wear off over time [S24]. In plain terms: the excitement of a new tool fades, so build a routine that does not depend on it feeling new.

1. Copy the text into a blank note first, never straight into the chatbot.
2. Swap names for labels: 'Dr Jana Example' becomes [DOCTOR]; your son becomes [CHILD]; you become [ME].
3. Delete identifying numbers: reference numbers, dates of birth, phone numbers and addresses.
4. Keep only what the question needs. To ask what one word means, paste that sentence, not the whole letter.
5. Read it as a stranger would. If someone could tell who it is about, remove one more detail.

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Learn in your browser · Chapter 02 of 06

Conversation practice is where a chatbot shines: it never gets tired, and you can repeat the same café scene ten times. The trick is to set the rules at the start: your level, the situation, how long its replies should be and how it should correct you. This chapter gives you a template for that, and a second prompt for challenging a correction.

Why set rules first? Without instructions, a chatbot tends to write long replies, slip back into English, or correct everything at once. A short set of rules at the start of the chat fixes most of that, and you can paste the same rules every time.

Let's practise [language] conversation. My level is [A1, A2, B1 or B2].
Situation: [for example, ordering lunch in a cafe in Lyon].
You play [the waiter]. I play [a customer].
Rules:
1. Write only in [language], one or two short sentences at a time, using words for my level.
2. Ask me one question at a time and wait for my reply.
3. After each of my replies, add a line starting 'Correction:' in English. Show my sentence, the corrected version and a one-line reason. If my sentence was correct, write 'Correction: correct'.
4. Correct no more than two things at a time.
5. If I type '?', explain your last message in simple English.
Start the conversation now.

What happens next. The AI opens the scene and you reply as well as you can. Try not to look words up first: having a go and being corrected is the practice. If you are stuck on a word, write it in English inside your sentence, for example 'Je voudrais un ... sandwich ... with cheese', and the AI will usually give you the word.

Challenge any correction that surprises you. Chatbots sometimes 'correct' sentences that were already right, or miss real mistakes. Asking it to explain the rule and give more examples often exposes the problem, but the final check is a grammar reference or a teacher, not the chatbot itself.

Look again at your correction of my sentence: '[my sentence]'.
You changed it to: '[your version]'.
Was my original sentence actually wrong? Explain the grammar rule in simple English.
Give two more example sentences that follow the rule.
Tell me how sure you are. If you are not sure, say so.

• 'Correct only mistakes that change the meaning.' Good when you want to keep talking.
• 'Save all corrections for a list at the end.' Good for a review session afterwards.
• 'Give me a hint, not the answer, and let me try again.' Good for remembering, because you have to recall the answer yourself.
• 'Explain in English' or 'Explain in [language]'. Choose English at A1 and A2.

Keep a mistakes log. At the end of each session, copy two or three corrections into your own notebook or document: what you wrote, the corrected version and the rule in a few words. Patterns soon appear (for Tom, plurals and past tenses). At the start of the next session, ask the AI to build the role-play around those patterns: 'Make me use plural nouns and the past tense with être.'

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Learn in your browser · Chapter 03 of 06

New words need to be met again and again before they stick. AI can make fresh practice material in seconds, but it should not be the place your vocabulary lives. This chapter builds a simple review routine that you control, with the AI as a quiz-maker.

Two findings worth knowing. First, testing yourself helps you remember. In a well-known experiment, students who practised recalling a passage remembered much more two days and one week later than students who simply reread it, even though rereading made them feel more confident [S23]. Second, spacing helps: a large review of memory experiments found that the best gap between study sessions gets longer the longer you want to remember something [S22]. So test yourself, and space your reviews out.

Why your list should live with you, not in the chat. Chats can be deleted, history and memory settings differ between tools, and you cannot easily see what a chatbot has kept from last week. Keep your own list in a notebook, a document or a flashcard app you control. Then paste a few words into the AI when you want practice.

1. Capture: after each session, add 5 to 10 useful words or phrases to your list, each with an example sentence, ideally one you used in your own conversation.
2. Test, do not reread: cover the [language] column, say the word from the English, then check. Then do it the other way round.
3. Space it: a simple pattern is to review a new word the next day, then about three days later, then a week later, then two to three weeks later. Only move a word to a longer gap when you got it right; if you got it wrong, start its pattern again. This pattern is a practical rule of thumb: the research above supports growing gaps, not these exact days.
4. Use the AI for fresh practice: paste only the words due today and ask for a quiz (template below).
5. Use the words: ask for a short role-play that makes you use today's words.

Here are words I am learning in [language] at level [level]:
[word 1] = [meaning]
[word 2] = [meaning]
[word 3] = [meaning]
Quiz me one word at a time. Mix the direction: sometimes give the English and ask for the [language], sometimes the reverse.
Wait for my answer. Tell me if I am right. If not, give the answer and one short example sentence.
At the end, list the words I got wrong.

Example sentences from an AI are handy, but they are also where errors hide. Before a sentence goes into your list, run a check like this one in a new chat:

Here are example sentences in [language]: [paste sentences].
For each one, tell me: is it correct and natural for a speaker from [country]?
Is any word used with an unusual meaning, or is it formal, slang or regional?
Check that adjectives and nouns agree with who is speaking.
Mark anything you are unsure about. Do not add new words.

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Learn in your browser · Chapter 04 of 06

Many chatbots now have a voice mode, so you can talk and listen instead of typing. That is excellent for building speaking confidence. It is much less reliable as a judge of your pronunciation, and it is not an exam. This chapter shows how to use voice practice well and how to check the feedback.

1. Look for a microphone or headphones icon near the message box. Tap it, and allow microphone access if your phone or browser asks.
2. Give your rules first: type them before you switch to voice, or say them aloud: your level, the situation and 'short replies, please'.
3. Speak, listen, reply. If the AI talks too fast, say 'more slowly, please' in the language you are learning.
4. Afterwards, read the transcript if the tool shows one, and ask for a written list of your mistakes.
5. Check the voice settings. Some tools keep recordings or transcripts. Read the privacy settings before you use voice for anything personal.

Why pronunciation feedback is the weak spot. Some voice chatbots turn your speech into text first and then respond to that text; others work with the sound directly. Either way, the tool can mishear you, and if it does, any feedback is about words you did not say, so read the transcript if the tool shows one. Speech recognition is not equally accurate for everyone. A 2020 study tested five commercial speech-to-text systems. The word error rate (the share of words written wrongly) averaged 0.35, about 35 words in 100, for Black speakers, many of whom spoke African American Vernacular English, against 0.19 for white speakers from California [S21]. That study was about native English speakers, not learners, and the systems have changed since, but it shows that the same tool can hear some voices better than others. Treat any pronunciation verdict from an AI as a hint to check, not a judgement.

• Record yourself on your phone saying five sentences, then compare with native-speaker audio from your course or from a reputable dictionary that has sound recordings.
• Ask the AI to explain how a sound is made (where the tongue goes, which English sound is close), then check the explanation against your course book.
• Use dictation as a rough signal only. If a speech-to-text tool writes what you meant, good. If it does not, try again more slowly, but do not assume you were wrong.
• Book a session with a qualified teacher, even just one, to check the sounds you find hardest.

I am preparing to speak about everyday topics in [language] at level [level].
Ask me one question at a time about [topic, for example my home town].
After each answer, give me:
(1) two phrases I could have used to sound more natural,
(2) one grammar point to fix,
(3) a follow-up question.
Do not give me a score, level or band. Keep your feedback under 80 words.

Exams are marked by people, under each test's own rules. On 20 October 2026, the official IELTS page described the Speaking test as a face-to-face interview with an examiner, lasting 11 to 14 minutes in three parts [S16]. It listed four assessment criteria: fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation [S16]. An AI can help you practise answering questions on familiar topics against those four headings, but any score it gives you is its own guess, not the test's. Check the current page named in the sources for the format before your test.

English tests for UK visas. On 20 October 2026, the GOV.UK page on secure English language tests (SELT), last updated 12 October 2026, said that if you intend to use an English test in an immigration or nationality application, you must take one of the tests on its list, from its approved providers [S15]. It said the level you need depends on the route you are applying for [S15]. AI practice can help you prepare, but it is not one of those tests. The page also said to make sure the test you book is the one approved for SELT, and it listed versions marked for UKVI, such as 'IELTS for UKVI', so check that your booking is for the approved version [S15]. Check the current page named in the sources before you book.

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Learn in your browser · Chapter 05 of 06

For everyday messages, AI translation is often good enough, and it is fast. How good depends on the language, on how clear your original text is and on how much it matters if a word is wrong. This chapter gives you a stakes test, a translation prompt and a check that works even if you do not speak the language.

Quality depends on the language. A 2023 study tested a chatbot's translations in 204 languages. It approached or beat dedicated translation systems for some widely used, high-resource languages but consistently lagged for low-resource ones, and under-performed dedicated systems for 84.1% of the languages covered. A language's resource level was the strongest predictor of how well it did [S18]. In practice, translation between English and Spanish is likely to be more reliable than between English and a language with far less digital text. Tools change, so treat this as a reason to check, not as a fixed ranking.

Health instructions show the risk. In a 2019 study, a free online translator turned 100 sets of hospital emergency department discharge instructions (647 sentences) into Spanish and Chinese: 92% of Spanish sentences and 81% of Chinese sentences were accurate, but 2% of Spanish and 8% of Chinese sentences could have caused significant harm [S19]. The authors suggested machine translation should supplement written English instructions, not replace them [S19]. A 2024 study of 20 children's discharge instructions found a chatbot and an online translator comparable to professional translators for Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese. For Haitian Creole, though, 33.3% of the chatbot's translations and 23.3% of the online translator's had potentially clinically significant errors, against 8.3% for professional translations [S20]. The lesson is not 'never use AI'. It is that the higher the stakes and the less common the language, the more you need a person.

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Translate the message below from [English] into [language] for [who will read it, for example my daughter's teacher in France].
The tone should be [polite and friendly / formal].
Keep it simple and clear. Do not add anything that is not in my message.
After the translation, list:
(1) any words or phrases with more than one possible meaning,
(2) anything that might sound rude, too formal or too casual,
(3) anything you were unsure about.
Message: [paste your message, with names and personal details replaced by labels such as [CHILD]]

The back-translation check. Open a new chat (a temporary or private chat if your tool offers one, because some tools remember earlier chats), so the tool cannot see your original, and paste only the translation with this prompt. Then compare the English that comes back with your original, line by line. Different words are fine; a different meaning is not. Back-translation can miss problems, because a tool can turn a mistake back into the right English, so for medium-stakes messages also ask a fluent speaker if you can.

Translate this [language] text into English as literally as possible.
Do not improve it or fix it.
Mark anything that is ambiguous or could be read in more than one way.
[paste the translation]

Make your original easier to translate. Use short sentences, avoid idioms such as 'touch base' or 'break a leg', write dates in full (6 November 2026, not 6/11), and spell out names of places and things. The researchers who studied discharge instructions also suggested avoiding complex grammar, jargon and colloquial English [S19].

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Learn in your browser · Chapter 06 of 06

When a translation will be used by an authority, a court or a health service, the question is not only 'is it accurate?' but 'will they accept it, and who is accountable for it?'. Each authority sets its own rules, and many ask a translator to sign a statement. This chapter shows what three immigration authorities and NHS England said on the day we checked, and how to verify the rules and escalate.

Why an AI translation is usually not enough here. The official rules below ask for a translator's confirmation that the translation is accurate or complete [S1][S7][S10]. The UK rules also ask for the translator's name, signature and contact details so the authority can check it [S1], and the Canadian rules ask for a certified translator's stamp or an affidavit [S10]. An AI tool cannot sign a statement or be contacted, and you cannot vouch for a language you do not read. Use AI to understand a document for yourself; use the authority's route for anything you submit.

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Notice that even one authority can ask for different things for different applications, as the two IRCC pages show [S10][S11]. Always use the guide for your exact application, and check the current page named in the sources: these rules are reviewed and changed.

What 'certified' means depends on where you are. Most pages in this paragraph show no clear update date and were opened on 20 October 2026, so check them again before you rely on them. The UK government's register of regulated professions says the UK has no system of 'sworn' or 'certified' translators [S4]. GOV.UK's 'Certifying a document' page says to ask the translator to confirm in writing that it is a true and accurate translation of the original, with the date and their full name and contact details [S3]. The Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) recommends a qualified, registered translator or translation company with a clear affiliation to a recognised body such as CIOL, the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) or the Association of Translation Companies (ATC), each of which keeps a public register [S5]. ITI says that, although the UK situation is unregulated, official organisations often expect a member of a professional body [S6]. In the US, the American Translators Association says anyone can certify a translation, and that the statement should include the translator's qualifications, a statement that it is complete and accurate, and their name, signature and the date [S9].

Health care: ask for an interpreter, not an app. NHS England's guidance for commissioners of primary care (published September 2018; its web page was last updated in March 2019) says interpreting and translation should be free at the point of delivery, and that patients should not be asked to pay or to provide their own interpreter [S12]. It says patients should always be offered a registered interpreter, that relying on family, friends or unqualified interpreters is strongly discouraged, and that using anyone under 16 is not acceptable except when immediate and necessary treatment is required [S12]. It says automated online translation should be avoided because there is no assurance of its quality [S12]. NHS England's 2025 improvement framework (published 27 May 2025, updated 16 June 2025) also notes concerns about the appropriate use of AI translation apps, and risks to accuracy and patient safety. It says any use of AI interpreting tools should sit within a clearly defined trust policy and a risk assessment [S13]. So ask the service what it offers instead of relying on your own app. This guidance is for the NHS in England; elsewhere, ask the clinic or hospital what language support it offers.

• Understand the gist for yourself: paste a redacted sentence or two from a letter so you know what it is about and what to ask.
• Prepare questions for the authority, the translator or the GP practice, in clear English.
• List names, places and terms from your document, so a professional translator can quote accurately and check spellings.
• Draft a polite email asking a translator for a quote and for their certification wording.

I need a [document type] translated from [language] into [English] for [organisation, for example a UK visa application].
Help me write a short, polite email to a professional translator that asks:
(1) whether their certified translation will include each item my receiving organisation lists: [paste the list from the official page];
(2) whether they belong to a professional translation body;
(3) the price and how long it will take;
(4) whether they translate stamps, seals and handwriting.
Do not add any legal claims or promises.

1. Find the receiving organisation's own page or guide for your exact application or service, and note its 'updated' date.
2. Copy its requirement list into your notes, then tick each item when the translator's statement covers it.
3. Keep evidence: the original, the translation, the translator's statement and receipt, and a saved copy or screenshot of the rule page with the date you checked it.
4. Diarise deadlines: put the application deadline and the translator's delivery date in your calendar, with at least a week to spare.
5. If unsure, ask the organisation that will receive the document, using the contact route on its own website, or an adviser who is regulated to give immigration advice. Be wary of anyone who charges a fee and promises that a document will be accepted: nobody outside the receiving organisation can promise that. Do not rely on an AI's summary of the rules.
6. For health care, tell the GP practice, hospital or pharmacy that you need an interpreter when you book, and say which language.

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