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The rise of AI means English learners now have more options than ever. From apps like Babbel, Speak, Mondly and ChatGPT to advanced pronunciation tools like Elsa Speak, AI promises personalised learning that will transform your English skills. But can it really help you speak English better than a good real teacher?
In this guide, I compare AI speaking tools with the skills and advantages of a good real English teacher across five essential speaking skills:
- Fluency & Conversation
- Pronunciation
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
- Feedback & Correction
What Makes a Good Teacher?
Before we start, let’s be clear: I’m comparing AI to a good real teacher — either online or in person.
A good teacher will:
- Teach relevant and useful information
- Use context-rich materials
- Help develop all skills (fluency, vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation)
- Personalise lessons to your needs
- Give useful feedback and correction
- Motivate you to keep learning
Fluency & Conversation
For fluency and conversation practice I looked at Speak, Mondly, Babbel, Memrise, Praktika, ELSA Speak and Speeko, as well as ChatGPT.
All of these had a clear structured curriculum to follow, except ChatGPT.
I found ChatGPT was really good for high level, free conversations, but the other apps were better for lower level learners who need more structure.
AI strengths:
- Always available for practice
- Infinite patience — no judgement!
- Practice any topic you want (e.g. ChatGPT for high levels, Speak and similar apps for lower levels)
- Instant transcripts to review after conversations
- Clear systematic structure, usually question and answer dialogue with a clear task, as well as support with hints, transcript and translation available
Limitations:
- Chat GPT won’t adapt to your level unless you program it carefully
- Chat GPT may interrupt or move too fast for lower-level learners
- The other AI apps for lower levels depend on a repetitive structure which does not represent real life, so making the bridge to real life conversations can be difficult.
Teacher strengths:
- Adapts speed and topics to your level automatically
- Prepares materials for you
- Gives time to think and respond naturally
Tip: Use AI for daily conversation practice; use a teacher to bridge the gap to real-life speaking.
Pronunciation
The best app I found for pronunciation was ELSA Speak. You can choose your avatar, US or GB accent. As with most AI apps these days, the quality of the voices is getting really good, closer and closer to a native-speaker.
AI strengths:
- Detailed, repeatable feedback on sounds, stress, and intonation
- Unlimited repetition at your pace
- Elsa Speak works on your pronunciation at all levels; phoneme, word, sentence and dialogue. It offers a variety of practise activities across all levels.
Teacher strengths:
- Can connect pronunciation tips to your native language
- Works on rhythm, intonation, and natural speech patterns
Tip: Use AI for focused drills; use a teacher for natural speech and personalised correction.
Vocabulary
AI strengths:
- Generates examples instantly.
- ChatGPT develops more complex vocabulary in a conversation, exposing you instantly to more synonyms of words you are already using.
- Offers repeated opportunity to practise new words. You can pause and repeat as often as you want, at your own pace.
- Uses spaced repetition for retention (e.g. DuoCards)
- Can activate new words in conversation (eg. Speak)
Limitations:
- Flashcard apps often lack real-life context, meaning you can memorise words but still struggle to use them in conversation
- Gamification is sometimes a distraction to real learning
Teacher strengths:
- Chooses vocabulary relevant to your life
- Explains subtle differences in meaning and usage (especially at higher levels)
Tip: AI for quick expansion; teacher for deep understanding and retention.
Grammar
AI strengths:
- 24/7 explanations and instant examples
- Great for quick questions during study
Limitations:
- Some apps follow fixed grammar paths that may not match your needs
- Examples can be irrelevant and not helpful
Teacher strengths:
- Introduces grammar at the right time for your progress
- Uses visuals (timelines, charts) to make rules clear
- Connects grammar to real speaking practice
Tip: AI for on-demand answers; teacher for integration into real speaking.
Feedback & Correction
AI strengths:
- Instant recasts, correction and repetition (Speak, Babbel, Speeko)
- Tracks progress and mistakes over time (Elsa, Mondly, DuoCards)
Limitations:
- Feedback is not always adapted to your needs
Teacher strengths:
- Can correct in many different ways, and can choose the right moment to correct you
- Explains why something is wrong in ways that click with you
Tip: AI for accuracy practice; teacher for confidence-building correction.
Key Takeaways
So… which is better, and AI app or a real teacher?
It depends on your level, learning style, the skills you are practising and how much guidance you need. Of course, you feelings about AI and the extent to which you are tech-savvy can also play a role. Whilst most apps have a very intuitive user-interface (Babbel, Speak), some do take some getting used to, and can be frustrating at times.
- AI: Great for repetition, structure, and bite-sized learning
- Real teachers: Best for personalisation, cultural context, grammar explanation, flexible correction and bridging study with real-life communication
The most effective approach? Mix both.
Use AI for drills, vocabulary expansion, and practice. You can access it anywhere and anytime.
Use a teacher for motivation, context, deep learning and to bridge the gap with real0life conversations.
My personal favourite AI tool for speaking: Speak — it combines real video teachers, AI conversation, and smart correction. Closest thing to a teacher in your pocket.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, especially for repetition, pronunciation, and vocabulary drills. But fluency also needs real-life conversation and adaptive feedback, which a good real teacher provides.
Elsa Speak is one of the strongest options, offering detailed feedback on individual sounds and intonation.
Not entirely. AI is great for solo practice, but teachers offer personalisation, motivation, and more real-life context that AI can’t fully match.
Use AI daily for 10–20 minutes of drills and conversation, and have regular lessons with a teacher for guided progress.
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