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This week, Google is rolling out two innovative AI-powered features for Google Translate that could impact the landscape of language learning apps, particularly Duolingo. The first feature introduces practice sessions that adapt to your skill level, enabling users to practice either listening or speaking. According to Google, these lessons are generated by AI and are designed to intelligently adjust to your individual learning pace.
The new practice sessions build on a previous AI experiment called Language Lessons, launched back in April. However, Google Translate's latest implementation is more straightforward, making it accessible for users at various skill levels. Currently, the feature is in beta and is being rolled out on both iOS and Android platforms.
When you first launch the updated Google Translate app, you will be prompted to assess your proficiency in the target language. You can choose from several options: Basic (some knowledge of words and phrases), Intermediate (ability to express opinions and engage in everyday conversation), or Advanced (capable of discussing a wide range of topics in depth). There is also a Just Starting option, although it is not yet available.
After selecting your proficiency level, you can specify your motivation for learning the language. This could be a custom input or a pre-defined option from the app. While skipping this step is possible, providing this information may help the AI tailor lessons to better suit your learning objectives.
Once these details are set, the app will generate interactive scenarios for practice. For instance, you might be prompted to practice asking about different meal times. Depending on your preference, you can choose to focus on listening or speaking. Listening exercises may involve listening to a short audio clip in the target language, followed by selecting recognizable words from a list. Speaking exercises may require you to repeat phrases displayed on the screen. While the format is simple, its effectiveness hinges on the personalized approach.
Google claims to have collaborated with language learning experts to develop these tools, drawing from the latest research in language acquisition. If these features enable me to improve my Portuguese skills for free, it certainly sounds promising. Nonetheless, only time will reveal whether Google Translate can compete with dedicated language learning apps like Duolingo.
The second new feature is an upgrade to the existing live conversation functionality. With this enhancement, users can engage in conversations as they normally would while Google Translate translates spoken words into the target language in real-time. This allows the other person to read the translation immediately as you speak.
If the other party wishes to hear the full translation, the app will provide a complete audio readout once you finish speaking. This advanced feature supports live conversations in over 70 languages, including Arabic, French, Hindi, Korean, Spanish, and Tamil, and is available to users in the U.S., India, and Mexico.
In conclusion, Google Translate's new AI features represent a significant leap in language learning technology. By offering personalized lessons and real-time translations, Google aims to enhance the language learning experience for users worldwide. Whether these innovations will stand up against established apps like Duolingo remains to be seen, but they certainly promise to make language acquisition more accessible and enjoyable.
