Google is piloting a new “Speaking practice” feature within Search Labs. This feature aims to help users improve their conversational English skills through interactive exercises powered by AI.
Currently in testing, Speaking Practice is available to English learners in Argentina, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and Venezuela who participate in Google’s Search Labs program.
This program allows users to experiment with early-stage search features. Here, the focus is on improving spoken English fluency and using new vocabulary in everyday scenarios.
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Building on a previous feature launched last year that focused on pronunciation and sentence clarity, Speaking Practice introduces a back-and-forth conversational element.
An X user first spotted the feature and shared screenshots showcasing its functionality. These screenshots illustrate how the AI might initiate by stating a desire to get in shape, followed by a question like “What should I do?” The user would then respond using words like “exercise,” “heart,” and “tired.”
By prompting users with conversational questions and requiring them to respond with specific vocabulary, Speaking Practice aims to enhance both conversational flow and proper word usage.
This new feature hints at Google’s potential interest in seriously competing with established language learning apps like Duolingo and Babbel. It’s not Google’s first foray into language learning; in 2019, they launched a feature allowing Search users to practice word pronunciation.
