An in-depth Speechling review (2024): The best app to master your speaking skills and pronunciation for language learning
Speechling is a cutting-edge language learning platform that emphasizes improving pronunciation skills.
It allows learners to record their voices and receive personalized feedback from native speakers, thus significantly enhancing their pronunciation accuracy.
Speechling is an online platform that helps individuals improve their language-speaking skills through personalized feedback and coaching. Users can record their sentences and receive expert guidance on pronunciation and fluency.
- Focus on pronunciation provides a unique learning angle (often overlooked by other platforms)
- Feedback provided by native speakers
- Wide range of languages that you can switch between any time
- Free for life option
- Beginners should learn the basics elsewhere
- Repetitive exercises
- Time for recording can be short
In recent years, language learning has been revolutionized with the introduction of various applications and other resources: you can choose between vocabulary builders, flashcard apps, tutoring and language exchange apps.
These platforms, like Spring Languages; SpanishPod101; italki; Mondly etc., have made learning a new language quicker, more accessible, and affordable for people across the globe.
In this Speechling review article, we’ll examine why it’s one of the most cutting-edge language learning apps on the market.
Interested in trying it out?
1. The cutting edge of Speechling: practice pronunciation in your target language
Speechling focuses predominantly on pronunciation.
It has an in-built AI-powered coach that helps learners improve their pronunciation and develop their speaking and listening skills.
The artificial intelligence helps you immediately if you mark some sentences or audios as hard, so you will see difficult exercises more frequently to help you master them.
This feature is further complemented by the app’s human-coach review system, where native speakers provide feedback on users’ speech: the human-coach can mark your pronunciation as ‘Good job!’ or ‘Needs work.’
Speechling’s language courses also feature a range of learning activities:
Dictation Practice
You can practice your listening and writing skills on the same sentences you speak
For this, use the Dictation Practice exercise in Speechling. You can immediately check your answer and move on to the next sentence, or you can mark the example for review to practice it again later.
Listening Comprehension Practice
You can also practice your listening skills with the Listening Comprehension Practice. To start practicing it, you just have to hit play and listen to the audio in your target language.
After you hear the sentence in your target language (eg. Spanish), you can stop the recording and translate it before you hear it in English.
Multiple Choice Quiz
One of the most interesting practice section in Speechling’s Toolbox is the Multiple Choice Quiz!
The quiz consists of an audio that you listen to and then you have to choose the correct answer from the given solutions! You can also see the sentence or hide it if you want a more advanced level exercise!
Flashcards
Flashcards are one of our favorites! You can frequently run into Quizlet flashcards on Effortless Conversations, so we really like this section on Speechling, although it works a little bit different than the traditional flashcard setup.
Of course, the focus here lies on the pronunciation: you listen to the correct one in Spanish and after that, you click on the ‘See Translation’ button to turn the flashcard to its other side.
Fill In the Blank Exercises
Build your vocabulary with a series of cloze tests!
A typical Fill In the Blank exercise will help you in perfecting your writing and listening skills. If you did a good job, you can record yourself saying the same sentence and get feedback for it!
All in all, Speechling provides users with a dashboard that tracks learners’ progress and provides insights on strengths and areas of improvement. All of this is, of course, focused on the area of pronunciation so that you quickly become acquainted with the spoken language.
Available languages
The app also offers users a vast range of over 10 languages to choose from, making it one of the most comprehensive language learning apps available:
- English (US and UK)
- French
- Spanish (Latin America and Spain)
- Chinese (Simplified and Traditional)
- Japanese
- Korean
- German
- Italian
- Portuguese
- Russian
User Experience Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (10/10)
2. Try Speechling: When and how to start with this learning tool
To set up your account, you’ll need to answer some questions about the language you want to learn and your starting level.
During the signup process, you’ll choose the language you want to learn and you’ll get redirected to another page to meet your human language coach. You are shown a picture of your coach and they’ll also greet you. After that, you are given the chance to introduce yourself.
Your coach will listen to your recordings and give you suggestions to improve your pronunciation, so you can sound like a native speaker. (This is basically where Speechling’s main focus lies.)
There’s no placement test, but you can change your level if it’s too easy or difficult for you.
When signing up first, you don’t need to provide any credit card information unless you want to sign up for Speechling Unlimited (more on this later).
3. Getting started with Speechling Unlimited: free version and pricing options
Speechling offers a free basic service as a non-profit organization.
With a free account, you can access the entire curriculum with professional vocal talents (both male and female) learn vocabulary, word choice, proper pronunciation, audio lessons, and ask questions.
But, there’s a limit to the free version!
You can receive up to 10 coaching sessions per month, except for the English language, which is a great deal!
This means that language learners can submit their responses to the coach for evaluation.
The coach then listens to your pronunciation and provides feedback through the audio journal section.
Premium option: Speechling Unlimited (with a 10% discount)
There is also an option called Speechling Unlimited.
For the Speechling Unlimited version, there are three payment plans available: Monthly for $29.99, every 3 months for $23.99 per month, and a yearly unlimited plan for $19.99 per month.
Check out the pricing table below:
| Plan | Monthly price | Total price per year |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $29.99 | $359.88 |
| Quarterly | $23.99 | $287.88 |
| Yearly | $19.99 | $239.88 |
Speechling Unlimited can be a more affordable option compared to having a tutor or paying for lessons online.
With this premium feature, you get unlimited coaching sessions, the audio journal saves your progress indefinitely, you can switch between languages, and access some premium language learning resources offline – so you can learn anytime!
Speechling also believes in making language learning accessible to everyone by introducing the Speechling Scholarships program. This program aims to provide learners who may not be able to afford the cost with access to Speechling Unlimited. Scholarships are awarded based on financial or educational needs, ensuring that these constraints are no longer a barrier to achieving language fluency. This demonstrates Speechling’s commitment to making language learning available to all, as they are a non-profit organization.
Value For Money Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (10/10)
4. How does Speechling work?
Speechling’s methodology emphasizes developing speaking and listening skills to improve language comprehension.
The app focuses on simulating natural conversation exchanges.
You can choose from three different study modes to customize your learning experience:
- Speak
- Understand
- Lecture
The app claims that its method is scientifically designed to optimize language acquisition, making Speechling more effective than many other language learning apps.
Study mode #1: Speak – Improve your speaking
By default, all sessions start in ‘Speak mode’, where users have the opportunity to record themselves and receive valuable feedback.
If you’re using this study mode, you can practice and refine your speaking abilities, leading to significant improvements in pronunciation and everyday communication.
Study mode #2: Understand – Improve your listening comprehension
In ‘Understand mode’, you can fully engage in a continuous flow of sentences and their translations, which creates, as they say, an ideal learning environment.
By marking cards as easy or hard, you actively participate in shaping the system’s adaptive difficulty. This way, you can make sure that your learning experience is tailored to your needs and progress.
Study mode #3: Lecture – Browse the lectures
The app’s language courses follow a structured learning approach that begins with basic vocabulary and pronunciation and gradually progresses to cover more advanced topics.
You follow the Skill Tree’s setup where you can check out the Speechling Core Curriculum anytime. The first step is the Beginner 1 level and you can advance to Expert level.
Speechling courses include conversational practice sessions, with native speakers providing feedback on learners’ pronunciations in real-time.
Content Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (7/10)
5. User interface and experience: features of Speechling
Speechling’s user interface is designed with user-friendliness and ease of use in mind.
The app offers a clear and straightforward layout, making it easy to navigate for new users.
You can find anything in your Toolbox:
- Dashboard: to see your stats and progress
- Dictation Practice: to type what you hear
- Listening Practice: to practice your listening skills
- Flashcards: to build your vocabulary
- Quiz: to test yourself on your progress
- Fill In The Blank: to learn in context
- Search: to search any sentence or word on Speechling
Features Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (8/10)
Additionally, you can access the Community which is honestly just a Facebook group but you can ask and answer questions there or share ideas and resources.
Speechling’s language courses are also user-friendly, interactive, and engaging.
The app’s mobile design is also optimized for both iOS and Android devices, providing a seamless user experience.
In terms of usability, Speechling is a great app for users looking for user-friendly interface and simple but effective navigation.
6. Speechling and Conversation Based Chunking: Language learning with chunks + pronunciation at the same time
Speechling and Conversation Based Chunking can be used together to both enhance your language skills and make your learning experience more engaging and interactive!
Conversation Based Chunking helps you learn language in context, focusing on phrases or ‘chunks’ as they are used in everyday conversation.
This method can be effectively integrated with Speechling:
In your Dictation Practice or Listening Practice, identify chunks that native speakers use as you go through the lessons.
Use the Flashcards tool to create your own chunk flashcards for future reference.
The Quiz and Fill In The Blank features further reinforce your understanding and recall of these chunks.
7. Weighing the pros and cons of Speechling
Speechling offers several advantages for learners who want to study a new language.
Some of the benefits include a wide range of language courses, AI-powered pronunciation and feedback, and human-coach reviews.
Some limitations of Speechling include the premium pricing plans and limited learning resources for learners who are at an absolute beginner or an advanced level.
Despite these limitations, Speechling is still one of the most cost-effective and practical language learning apps in the market, especially if you want to focus on improving your pronunciation and listening skills.
8. User testimonials: the Speechling experience
What do users think of Speechling?
Speechling has received numerous positive reviews from users worldwide. Most users cite the app’s unique features, engaging courses, and personalized feedback as some of their favorite aspects of the app.
Additionally, users value the AI-powered coaching support and the quality of feedback provided by human coaches on their spoken exercises.
The engaging Facebook community is a huge plus for some, too.
User Reviews Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (9/10)
9. Speechling against other language learning apps: a comparative analysis
Speechling is an excellent app for language learning, but how does it compare to other popular language learning apps?
When compared with popular apps like italki, Spanishpod101, Duolingo, and Babbel, Speechling stands out for its unique features and personalized learning approach.
While it may lack some features related to grammar exercises or learning vocabulary, Speechling’s human-coach reviews and the AI-powered coaching make it and effective tool for language learning.
It’s best if you already have some basic knowledge of the target language you want to improve.
Speechling is also cost-effective when compared to many other language learning apps, and this makes it an affordable and practical alternative.
10. Speechling review: delivering the final verdict
Speechling stands out as one of the most innovative and effective language learning apps on the market.
Its unique features, comprehensive language options, and effective learning methodology make it an excellent tool for language learners of all levels. While Speechling has some limitations, it still provides value for money.
Overall, we recommend Speechling as an excellent app for language learning due to its variety of features, personalized learning approach, and affordability.
Effortless Conversations takes pride in providing well-researched, reliable, and unbiased language product reviews, based on the Conversation Based Chunking™ methodology. Our team’s extensive experience in language teaching and learning, combined with our Linguist Code of Ethics, ensures that the reviews you read on our website come from a place of genuine expertise and care for your language learning success.
If you want to learn a new language quickly, affordably, and with personalized coaching support, Speechling is an app worth considering.
Speechling
Discover the power of Speechling for improving your pronunciation. Read our comprehensive Speechling review to learn more.
8.7
Is Speechling free?
Speechling offers a free basic service as a non-profit organization. You can access the entire curriculum with professional vocal talents, learn vocabulary, word choice, proper pronunciation, audio lessons, and ask questions. But, there’s a limit: you can only receive up to 10 coaching lessons in a month!
11. An Effortless Lookout: Other opinions on Speechling
Of course, we value the opinions of others. We’re constantly evaluating these language learning courses and apps ourselves, but there are other opinions on the internet. And that’s a great thing!
Here’s what Reddit’s biggest language learning subreddit has to say about how you can use Speechling:
Speechling users – how are you using it?
byu/tabidots inlanguagelearning
