Google is testing a new “speaking practice” feature in Search that helps users improve their English conversational skills. The company told TechCrunch that the feature is available to English learners in Argentina, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Mexico and Venezuela who have joined Search Labs, its program for users to experiment with Google search experiences in stages. initials.
The company says the goal of the experiment is to help improve a user's English skills by getting them to participate in interactive, ai-powered language learning exercises to help them use new words in everyday scenarios.
Speaking Practice is based on a feature Google launched last October that is designed to help English learners improve their skills. While the feature launched last year allows English learners to practice sentences in context and receive feedback on grammar and clarity, oral practice adds the dimension of back-and-forth conversational practice.
The feature was first detected by atwitter.com/howfxr/status/1783448350299214123/photo/3″ target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”> x userwho shared screenshots of the functionality in action.
Oral practice works by asking the user a conversational question to which they must respond using specific words. Based on the screenshots, a possible scenario could include the ai telling the user that it wants to get fit and then asking, “What should I do?” The user will then have to say a response that includes the words “exercise,” “heart,” and “tired.”
The idea behind this feature is to help English learners maintain a conversation in English and at the same time understand how to use different words correctly.
The launch of the new feature indicates that Google could be laying the groundwork for a true competitor to language learning apps like Duolingo and Babbel. This is not the first time that Google has ventured into educational and language learning tools. In 2019, Google released a feature which allowed Search users to practice pronouncing words correctly.
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