Google Heads Straight For Apps Like Duolingo & Babbel By Introducing ‘Speaking Practice’ Feature

The 'Speaking Practice' feature works by asking the user a question following which he/she will be prompted to answer using a predefined set of words.

For those unfamiliar with this, Google introduced a Duolingo-style English learning feature last year to assist individuals in practising and enhancing their English-speaking abilities.

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Google Search is now rolling out a new feature which would help users improve their English-speaking skills. This new functionality is called ‘Speaking Practice’, and it is currently available to those in Argentina, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Mexico and Venezuela enrolled in Google Search Labs. The tech giant has said that this new functionality allows users to participate in AI-powered interactive language learning exercises. It will eventually help them learn new words which they could then use in everyday scenarios.

According to a TechCrunch report, 'Speaking Practice' was first spotted by a user on X (formerly Twitter). It works by asking the user a question following which he/she will be prompted to answer using a predefined set of words.

One of the screenshots provided by the user indicates that the feature may incorporate an AI chatbot prompting the user about their fitness goals, followed by a query asking how they plan to achieve them. Users are then prompted to respond with single-word answers like ‘tired,’ ‘heart,’ and ‘exercise.’

For those unfamiliar with this, Google introduced a Duolingo-style English learning feature last year to assist individuals in practising and enhancing their English-speaking abilities. The addition of the Speaking Practice feature further enhances this offering by introducing a new interactive dimension.

To access the Speaking Practice feature, launch the Google app on your device and select the Labs icon located in the top left corner. If available for your account, you will find the new feature listed here.

It appears that Google wishes to take on apps like Duolingo and Babbel head-on. As of now, there is no information on whether the tech giant is planning to bring the experimental feature to more regions or not.