Teacher AI received significant attention on social media, promoted by prominent polyglots on YouTube and other platforms. Could this be the reason behind its premium pricing and the absence of a free trial? Here’s what the app has to offer, particularly for learners of Chinese.
If you’re active in the online language learning community, you’ve probably heard of Teacher AI. It’s an app built on ChatGPT, designed specifically for language learners. The app allows practice with ‘AI clones’ of popular YouTube language teachers like Olly Richards and Benny Lewis. Let’s dive into the pros and cons of this AI-powered language learning app.
Teacher AI – pros
Natural and accurate AI voice
The AI’s voice is quite natural and native-like, a critical feature of course. It’s better than most AI-voices I’ve heard so far, so credit where credit is due. (Check my blog about AI voices for Chinese)
Highly customizable settings
Teacher AI allows learners to tailor their experience, meaning you can adjust the speed of speech, the frequency of corrections and more stuff – making it adaptable for different learning styles and preferences. Almost like an actual (AI) tutor.
Strong speech recognition
The app’s ability to (fairly) accurately parse spoken input is a standout feature. This means you can focus on speaking without the frustration of repeated errors in recognition, although it’s not completely perfect and there’s no such thing as ‘hands free’ mode, so you have to push the mic button to record and send voice messages.
Multilingual support
The app also supports Spanish, French, Portuguese, English and German (among others), with hopes for future expansions. What’s more – and this is unusual – the language of instruction doesn’t have to be English. Good news for non-native English speakers like myself who might prefer another language. Not many other apps offer this.
Engaging conversations
The AI ‘personalizes’ conversations based on user interests, helping learners expand vocabulary and practice real-life scenarios. Although you can talk about almost anything, it does seem that Teacher AI doesn’t discuss controversial topics like certain political issues.
Vocabulary tracking
One unique feature is its ability to track and display both active and passive vocabulary. That means, it documents the words you wrote and adds the words your AI-teacher used in response, helping you to grow your vocabulary in focus areas.
Integrated dictionary
Unlike in Talkpal – a similar app – words spoken by the AI teacher are clickable, allowing learners to quickly check definitions and reinforce their understanding. This might sound basic but is actually very useful.
In this video, Xiaoma speaks Chinese and gets corrected a few times, reinforcing my impression that the AI leans toward formal language rather than the casual, everyday language people typically use.
Teacher AI – cons
Expensive subscription
The app’s current pricing model may discourage potential users. Want to try out Teacher AI? That’ll cost you $25. Interested in a yearly subscription? It’s priced at $147, which is more reasonable – but can’t I at least test the app before committing? No, because, as of now, the mobile version does not offer a free trial option.
Not beginner-friendly
Teacher AI – like other AI-chatbots – is geared toward intermediate to advanced learners (A2 – B1 level and above). Beginners might struggle to keep up or benefit fully from the experience.
Different AI-teachers – one personality? It’s my impression based on user reviews I’ve been reading that Teacher AI lacks variety in its AI teacher personalities, making conversations feel repetitive over time. This uniformity can be uninspiring, especially for long-term users. Introducing distinct personalities or conversational styles could make interactions more engaging and enjoyable.
Conclusion
Teacher AI is undoubtedly a promising app, not in the least due to the contributions of many experienced language learning enthusiasts. However, as I mentioned earlier, I can’t help but wonder if too much of the budget has been funneled into marketing, given its sky-high pricing. This brief review is based on my research through Reddit, YouTube and other sources, as I wasn’t willing to spend $25 just to try the app – especially with so many cheaper and free alternatives available.
As with my previous review of the AI tutor app Talkpal, I have my doubts about the claim that AI can actually replace an experienced language teacher. Not to mention the ‘cloning’ of YouTube personalities who then act as teachers for all possible languages. This is primarily a marketing stunt, under the hood it is of course still ChatGPT. And there is little evidence of different personalities. What is not may still come, but in the meantime Teacher AI would do well to be honest about this.
That said, Teacher AI is worth keeping an eye on. I’m curious to see if it can rise above the fierce competition in the language learning market.
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