If you are thinking about starting to learn French or another language but are feeling a bit lost on where to begin, I’ve got something cool to share with you—LanguaTalk! I stumbled upon it while I was on the hunt for new tools to use alongside French Together.

While searching high and low for the best apps out there, LanguaTalk’s reviews caught my attention, so I decided to give it a go, and here’s the scoop on what it’s like to learn French with LanguaTalk.

What is LanguaTalk?

LanguaTalk is a language learning platform that provides two distinct methods for learning languages:

LanguaTalk offers an AI-powered platform named Langua, where you can practice speaking and get feedback from AI characters designed to simulate human conversation. This option lets you learn at your own pace and have interactive conversations with an AI character. These virtual tutors ask insightful questions and help correct any mistakes you make, offering a flexible and tech-savvy way to practice your language skills.

Second, you can take advantage of their tutoring service, where you connect with native speakers for personalized one-on-one lessons. This approach focuses on conversation practice and tailored feedback, giving you the chance to engage in real-time discussions with experienced tutors. It’s perfect if you’re looking to enhance your speaking skills and gain practical language experience.

Langua

Langua is a cool feature on the LanguaTalk platform that you can find right in the top menu. It’s powered by AI and lets you do a bunch of different activities to help you learn a language. You can chat with AI characters as if you’re having real conversations, which is great for practicing speaking. Plus, you can save any new words you come across and use flashcards to learn vocabulary. There are also podcasts and videos tailored to your level, so you can learn while listening or watching something that’s just right for you. It’s like having your own personal language coach and resource center all in one.

How to get started with Langua?

So, if you want to dive into Langua, just head over to the top menu in LanguaTalk and click on the Langua option. After that, it’ll guide you through setting up your preferences. It’s pretty straightforward—just follow the prompts to tweak everything to your needs.

How much does Langua cost?

Langua has three different subscription plans, so you can pick the one that suits you best. If you go for the annual subscription, you’ll get a discount, which is a nice bonus. It’s also a pretty risk-free way to see if it works for you because they have a 30-day money-back guarantee. So, if you try it out and decide it’s not for you, you can get a full refund. 

Langua Features

Communicate With AI

It lets you have a conversation with an AI character. You can either type your responses or just record your voice. What’s really cool is that you can listen to the AI character’s replies and see them transcribed on the screen. If you need it, you can slow down the playback and even translate the transcription into your native language.

Within this feature, you can also practice your pronunciation. It lets you read a sentence/phrase on the screen, and then you can record yourself saying it out loud. The AI listens to your recording and checks each word to see if you nailed it or if there’s something you need to work on. It’s like having a personal pronunciation coach right there with you. Pretty cool, right?

Watch A Video

Langua’s got this awesome library of videos that you can watch, and you can actually filter them by language, level, content type, topic, dialect, and even how long they are. 

You can slow down the videos if you need to, and it also shows you the translation while the video plays, which is a huge help when you’re trying to catch on to new phrases or tricky words.

The only downside? You can’t watch them offline, so if you’re somewhere without internet, you’re out of luck. But when you do have a connection, it’s a pretty sweet setup for learning.

Listen To A Podcast

Just like the video section, Langua also has a whole library of podcasts that you can filter by your skill level, language, and even dialect. 

It’s great because you can slow down the playback speed if things are going too fast, and you can generate a translation to follow along, which is super helpful for picking up new vocab and getting the hang of pronunciation.

One of the coolest features is that you can click on any word while you’re listening to see its translation, meaning, usage examples, similar words, and how to pronounce it. If you find a word you really want to remember, you can save it and use it later with the flashcard feature on Langua.

Learn Vocab With Flashcards

With a free Langua account, you can add vocab from their free packs, which is a nice way to start building up your word bank. But if you want to add more vocabulary or create your own custom lists, you’ll need to upgrade to a Langua Pro account. The Pro version lets you import your own vocabulary, so you can really personalize your learning experience and focus on the words and phrases that matter most to you. It’s a great option if you’re serious about getting fluent and want more control over what you’re learning.

In the flashcards section on Langua, you’ve got three different activities to choose from: Recall, Listen, and Produce. I think Recall is the easiest because it shows you the French word right away, and you can play the pronunciation to help you remember it. On the other hand, Produce is definitely the toughest, especially if you’re just starting out. You only see the English word, and you have to translate it into French without any pronunciation help—it’s a real challenge!

But honestly, my favorite is the Listen activity. It’s pretty fun because you get to guess the French word just by listening to the audio, and then you also try to figure out the English translation of the word on the flashcard. This feature is a lot like French Together, but it actually has more activities compared to Langua, which only offers three. I really enjoy having apps like this where you can just dive into learning without having to interact with anyone.

Learn High Frequency Words

This feature is great because it allows you to add even more words to your flashcard routine, which really helps keep things fresh and challenging. The words you can add are often common French words that you’ll hear all the time, so it’s super useful for building up your everyday vocabulary and getting more comfortable with the language. It’s perfect if you’re looking to expand your French vocab and make your practice sessions even more effective.

Learn Saved Words via Stories

This is one of those cool perks you get with a Langua Pro account. It’s pretty awesome because it lets you pick either the last 12 or 24 words you’ve added and then the AI whips up a story using those words in just a couple of minutes. It’s super helpful for seeing how those words fit into sentences and how they’re actually used in context.

You can choose which voice reads the story, making it feel more personalized. And if you’re still learning new words, you can generate a translation. There’s also full French transcription, so you can follow along and really get the most out of it. I really like it because it’s such a fun and interactive way to reinforce what you’ve been learning.

Import Articles or Videos

Another awesome thing about Langua is that you can bring in your own YouTube videos or any text you want to practice with. It’s a really flexible way to make your learning more personalized and focus on content that interests you. If you add a text, Langua gives you the option to generate audio for it in just a few minutes.  Just like with the other features, you can translate the text, adjust the playback speed, and save any new words you come across to add them to your flashcard routine. 

See Imported Content

This section allows you to see all the content you’ve imported into Langua, like YouTube videos or custom texts you’ve added for practice. It keeps everything organized in one place, so you can easily access and review the materials you’ve chosen. You can go back to any video or text whenever you want, making it convenient to revisit things you’re struggling with or just want to practice more.

The Good Stuff

Realistic Conversations (Langua): The AI provides interactions that closely mimic real-life conversations, helping you practice and improve your language skills in a natural context.

Immediate Feedback (Langua): You receive instant corrections and suggestions, which helps you quickly address mistakes and refine your language use.

24/7 Availability (Langua): You can practice speaking anytime, without needing to coordinate with a tutor or partner, allowing for flexible and consistent practice.

Customizable Practice (Langua): Conversations can be tailored to specific topics or scenarios that interest you, making the practice more relevant and engaging.

Personalized Lessons (Tutoring):
Personalized lessons are a huge plus. You get these one-on-one sessions with real tutors who actually adapt the lesson to fit what you need. Whether you’re working on speaking, tackling tricky grammar, or just practicing conversation, the tutor tailors everything to help you improve in the areas that matter most to you.

Flexible Scheduling (Tutoring):
Another great thing is the flexible scheduling. You can book lessons whenever they fit into your life, which is perfect if you have a busy or unpredictable routine. No more stressing about fitting a class into your day, just schedule it when it works for you.

Wide Range Of Tutors (Tutoring):
There’s also a wide range of tutors to choose from, which is awesome because you can filter them based on price, teaching style, or even the languages they speak. Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly option or someone with a specific background, you’ll probably find a tutor that fits what you’re looking for.

Trial Lessons (Tutoring):
Trial lessons are a big bonus. A lot of tutors offer free or discounted trial lessons, so you can test them out before committing to a full package. It’s nice to get a feel for their style before spending more money.

No Recurring Fees (Tutoring):
Another thing I like is that there are no recurring fees. You don’t have to pay a subscription—just book the lessons you need and pay as you go, which is way better for managing your budget.

They Carefully Select Only High-Quality Tutors (Tutoring):
LanguaTalk is super picky with tutors, only accepting about 5% of applicants. This means the tutors you get are usually more reliable and experienced compared to other sites. I also read a review that LanguaTalk is known for treating its tutors really well.

What’s Not So Good

Platform User Interface And Design (Tutoring and Langua):
LanguaTalk is super easy to navigate, which is great because you don’t have to waste time figuring out how to use it. But there are a few things on the tutoring side I was hoping to find, but they just don’t seem to be there. For example, a friend gave me some credits to book lessons and I was trying to check how many credits I have left, but I couldn’t find any page that shows my available credits. It seems like there isn’t a dedicated spot for tracking credits or an option to buy credits in advance, which would make things a lot easier instead of having to pay separately every time you book a lesson. I even looked through the settings, but no luck there, so I’m guessing that feature just doesn’t exist.

It’s also really frustrating when you’re trying to find a specific tutor and can’t because there’s no search bar. I found a tutor who seemed like a great fit, but I didn’t book them right away since I was checking out other options. Now, I only remember their first name, but there’s no way to search for them on the platform.

It would also be really helpful if they added a filter so you could search for tutors by level. That way, it’d be way easier to find someone who matches your language skill level right off the bat.

And honestly, Langua’s design is a bit plain and feels a little outdated. It’s functional, but it doesn’t really have that fun, engaging vibe that could make the learning experience more enjoyable. I feel like if they spruced up the platform a bit—maybe added some more vibrant colors, interactive elements, or just a more modern look—it could really boost the whole experience and make learning feel a bit more exciting.

Tutor Availability (Tutoring):
Booking a lesson at your desired schedule can be a bit tricky. Since the tutors are real people with their own schedules, finding a time that fits perfectly with yours can sometimes feel like a juggling act, especially if you’re in a different time zone or have a packed schedule. And sometimes the tutor you really click with might not be available when you are, which is a bummer.

On top of that, I’ve had this frustrating experience where I booked sessions with multiple tutors who were listed as being able to teach all levels, including beginners. But it turned out they weren’t really available or equipped to teach beginners after all. It’s kind of annoying because it feels like you’ve wasted time and effort setting things up, only to be back at square one trying to find another tutor. So, while the platform has some great options, this part of the process could definitely use a little more clarity and consistency.

Inconsistent Quality (Tutoring and Langua):
Although LanguaTalk is recognized for choosing highly qualified tutors, the quality can really vary from one tutor to another. Some might be amazing and really help you improve, while others might not be as effective, making the whole process feel frustrating. So, it’s definitely not as simple as just picking the first tutor you come across.

Another factor that disrupts the quality is the internet reliability, since the lessons are online, a bad internet connection on either end can really mess things up and make it harder to get the most out of the session.

I also ran into a few bugs while messing around with the “Communicate with AI” feature on Langua. When I was trying to work on my pronunciation, it kept telling me to “listen and try again” without pointing out which words I got right or wrong. It looks like it’s still in beta, so that might explain why it’s not super consistent yet.

What’s the cost of each tutoring lesson?

So, getting started with LanguaTalk doesn’t cost a thing— just like other language learning app, signing up is totally free, and there aren’t any recurring fees just for having an account. However, you will need to pay for the actual tutoring sessions. The price varies depending on the tutor, and many of them offer lesson packs at a discounted rate. My advice? Book a trial lesson first to get a feel for the tutor and their teaching style before committing to a whole pack.

When you’re browsing for lessons, you can filter them by hourly rate. Prices start as low as $9 and can go up to $70, depending on the tutor. So, there’s a range that can fit different budgets!

And here’s what I like about this tutoring platform compared to others—some of the tutors actually offer a free 30-minute trial lesson. It’s a great way to test the waters without spending a dime. And even if some tutors don’t have a free trial, a lot of tutors give you the option to book a trial lesson at a discounted rate. 

What’s it like learning French with LanguaTalk?

LanguaTalk’s tutoring setup is pretty similar to other language apps like iTalki. You can book lessons, try out a trial session, or even buy lesson packs from both native and non-native speakers. With the live tutors, it’s all about you. You can book lessons whenever it suits your schedule, and they’ll help you with everything—from nailing that tricky pronunciation to making sense of grammar rules, or just having casual conversations in French. 

What makes LanguaTalk a bit different, though, is that they have an AI-powered platform. So, if you’re not feeling ready for a one-on-one session or just want some extra practice at your own pace, you’ve got a go-to practice buddy ready anytime. Let’s say you’re chilling at home or have a few minutes to spare, you can use the AI to work on your pronunciation by reading sentences out loud. The AI listens and gives you instant feedback, letting you know if you got it right or if there’s something you need to tweak. It’s super convenient, especially when you just want to practice on your own without worrying about scheduling a tutor or talking to someone. Just you and the app, doing your thing, which makes it easy to fit in learning whenever you have some free time!

Based on my experience, LanguaTalk did help me get familiar with a few new words, which is great for casual learning. That said, I can see how it might not be effective for everyone, especially if you’re someone who needs more interaction with the AI feature. The activities you can do with it are pretty limited, so if you’re a beginner looking for a more dynamic, interactive experience, this might not fully meet your needs. Although Langua has many great tools, as a beginner, I do feel like the flashcard feature on Langua, isn’t as interactive as I’d hoped. It’s mostly about guessing the answers in your head, and then you decide if you got it right or not, which isn’t super engaging. I wish there were more activities where you could actually interact with the content instead of just mentally checking yourself.

Overall, I feel Langua is best suited for intermediate and advanced learners. It’s excellent for practicing speaking because it offers realistic and interactive practice. The AI mimics natural conversation patterns, helping you get used to real-life dialogue flow and nuances, while providing immediate feedback for quick correction and improvement. You can customize conversations to match your interests and learning goals, and the AI can simulate various scenarios and styles, from casual to formal interactions. Plus, with 24/7 availability, you can practice speaking at your convenience, ensuring regular and consistent learning. This combination of realism, adaptability, and flexibility makes Langua’s AI conversations a great tool for enhancing your French language skill.

If you’re into exploring other AI language apps even while sticking to LanguaTalk for tutoring, there are more interactive options out there like Duolingo and our very own French Together. Although I’m obviously a little biased, I love that French Together offers more types of conversation practice activities. Plus, it gives you feedback on your pronunciation for each word, which is super helpful. It even scores you on how well you pronounce each word and tells you which syllables need more work, so you can improve as you go. 

I found that incorporating French Together into my routine made a real difference. The app comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can give it a shot and see if it works well for you without any risk.