Conversation Practice in Many Languages — Free for 10 Minutes a Day Using Gliglish.com

Welcome to Gliglish.com!

Sometimes we are shy about using the new language we are learning. Maybe we are afraid of making mistakes, and that someone might laugh at us. This blog post is about Gliglish, a free website where you can practice speaking a new language with AI. It feels like a real conversation, like you are talking to a person.

Easy to start (and free)

Gliglish is easy to try. It has a free plan that gives you 10 minutes a day. On the free plan, conversations are also limited to 50 messages. You can start right now, with no sign-up needed: 👉 https://gliglish.com/

You can use Gliglish on your computer, and there is also a free app you can use anywhere you are. This makes it simple to practice in small moments, like on the bus, during a break, or at home.

Settings — the gear icon

Even without an account, you can use the gear icon to change your settings. For example, you can choose your preferred language for translations — this means Gliglish will help you in your own language when you do not understand something. You can also use the gear icon to turn on or off grammar feedback, pronunciation feedback, and the transcript (the written text of what the AI says).

Create a free account

It is a good idea to create a free account. It is free and easy to do. With a free account, Gliglish can keep track of your progress and you can see your past conversations. It should also keep track of your the language you would like to use for feedback.

Speaking and listening practice

With Gliglish, you speak using your microphone and you listen to the AI. This helps you practice like in real life. You can turn on a transcript to read what the AI says. This is very helpful if you do not understand a word.

If the AI speaks too fast, you can change the playback speed and make it slower. You can also click on any word to hear it again and learn how it sounds.

Help when you don't know what to say

Sometimes we stop because we do not know what to say next. Gliglish gives you suggestions, so you can keep the conversation going. You can also ask a question in your own language, and Gliglish will help you. Note: this works best in English, and may be less correct in other languages.

Real-life role plays

Gliglish lets you practice real situations. You can practice things like ordering food, talking at the post office, going on a date, or doing a job interview. If you do not understand a word, you can see a translation in your own language.

Feedback like a teacher

You can choose to get feedback on your grammar. Gliglish tells you what was good and how to improve. You can also get feedback on your pronunciation. Gliglish uses the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to show you exactly how to say a word correctly. Note: pronunciation feedback is currently only available for American English. Both of these features are available on the free plan. It is like having a friendly teacher with you all the time!

Final Thoughts

This is a fun, free, and safe way to practice a new language. If you want more, the paid plan (Gliglish Plus) costs about $25–$29 per month. It gives you unlimited conversation time, 50 topics, mini-classes, a beginner-friendly mode, and faster access at busy times. But the free plan is a great place to start. Try it today: 👉 https://gliglish.com/

 

New Language Learning Resources on TASDL

The TASDL (Teacher-Assisted, Student-Driven Learning) website offers a comprehensive collection of resources to help you improve your English skills independently. Created and curated by Steve McGuire (editor of this blogger page), this Google Sites page serves as a hub for guided self-study materials.

What You'll Find on TASDL

The main site at https://sites.google.com/nua.ac.jp/tasdl/home provides several key sections:

Blog Page - Stay updated with the latest additions and resources. New topics are added regularly, and blog posts appear both on the main blog page and their respective topic pages.

More Study for The English Gym (TEG) - This section offers resources specifically designed to supplement TEG materials, though some content overlaps with the Skills Practice pages.

Skills Practice Page - Find dedicated pages for each language skill: reading, speaking, listening, and writing. Additional pages cover vocabulary and grammar. There's also a separate section for AI-based resources that often complement the individual skills pages.

Google Gems and AI Tools for Language Practice - Discover various AI tools from different platforms that make English learning engaging and practical. Two specific GEMs have already been featured in detail on the blog:

• A Grammar Practice App that adapts to your CEFR level (A1-C1) and provides personalized grammar exercises [Link to blog post about Grammar Practice GEM]
• A Reading Practice App that generates level-appropriate texts on topics you choose  [Link to blog post about Grammar Practice GEM]

I have also written a blog post about how to make your own English Learning Gemini GEM. [Link to blog post about Grammar Practice GEM]

Community Sharing Page - Share helpful websites you've discovered or report any broken links on the site.

Prompt Writing for Language Learning - Learn how to craft effective prompts for independent English study using AI tools.

The site is bilingual, with key information provided in both English and Japanese to support learners at all levels. Whether you're working on specific skills or looking for AI-powered practice tools, TASDL provides a structured approach to self-directed English learning.

Little Language Lessons from Google: Making Language Practice More Personal with AI

Google is always coming out with new ways to learn. In other posts, I have written about using Google Gems. In this post, I will talk about Little Language Lessons. This looks like it might be a useful tool for language learning. You can even ask it to write using CEFR A2 level, which makes it easier for learners. You can try it here: 👉 https://labs.google/lll/en/experiments/tiny-lesson

Little Language Lessons is an experiment made by Google. That means it may disappear later or might become a regular feature in the future, so it’s good to try it while it’s still available. Right now, you can only access it using English, Spanish, and Portuguese, but I hope it broadens out to include other languages someday. Learning a new language is not only about textbooks or grammar exercises. It’s also about curiosity—finding small chances to learn every day. Maybe you learn something new when you order coffee, hear a short phrase in a movie, or try to describe what you see around you. These are great moments to practice and build confidence.

Little Language Lessons uses Google’s Gemini AI models to make learning more personal and fun. Each small tool helps you practice languages in a different way.

Tiny Lesson

This tool gives you useful words, phrases, and grammar tips for a specific situation, such as asking for directions or talking about the weather.

Slang Hang

This one shows you short, natural conversations that help you learn how people really speak, including slang and casual phrases.

Word Cam

This lets you point your camera at an object, and the app tells you what it’s called in another language, making it a simple and fun way to learn new words and practice vocabulary.

These small experiments are not made to replace regular study. Instead, they support your learning, helping you build habits, stay interested, and use your new language in everyday life. Learning becomes part of your daily world, not just something that happens in your classroom.

It would be easy to make a Gem that does something similar—giving short lessons, useful phrases, and real examples. 

Watch this space for that post!

 

How to Make Your Own English Learning Gemini Gem

In a post on October 9th (click here to go directly) I shared a Google Gem I created for grammar practice. In that gem, it asks you what your level is and, what grammar topic you'd like to practice or gives suggestions. 

However, it is very easy to create your own English tutor app. With Gemini Gems (or with most available AIs like ChatGPT, CoPilot, and others), you can make a special AI helper for English learning! Here I will write about how Gem can help you read, practice vocabulary, and answer questions, just for you.

Let’s see how you can make your own English-learning Gem using prompt writing!

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What Is a Gemini Gem?

A Gemini Gem is a custom AI expert. You decide what it does and how it acts. For example, you can make a Gem to help you learn English, as if with a reading tutor or a vocabulary coach.

Gems can:

• Make reading exercises
• Ask you questions
• Give you feedback
• Use friendly or serious tones
• Help you at your English level (A1, A2, B1, etc.)

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How to Make Your Own English-Learning Gem

Here are easy steps to make your own Gem for English practice:

1. Choose Your Goal

What do you want your Gem to help with? For English, maybe:

• Reading practice
• Vocabulary quizzes
• Understanding texts

2. Pick a Tone

How should your Gem sound?

• Friendly (“Great job! Let’s try another.”)
• Patient (“No problem. Let’s try again.”)
• Serious (“Please answer the next question.”)

3. Write a Prompt

A prompt is a message that tells your Gem what to do. The better your prompt, the better your Gem will help you!

Example of a sample Prompt to practice reading:

You are a friendly English reading tutor.
Ask me what topic I want to read about.
Ask my English level (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2).
Write a short reading at my level.
After the reading, ask me 5 True/False questions, one at a time.
Wait for my answer after each question.
Next, ask 5 vocabulary questions with choices a, b, c, d.
Then, ask 5 more multiple choice questions about the reading, one at a time.
Give feedback after every answer.
At the end, ask one discussion question and give advice.
Always use my English level for your answers.

You can copy this prompt, or change it to fit your own style!

4. Add Special Instructions

You can tell your Gem to:

• Wait for your answer before moving on
• Keep questions simple or more difficult
• Give feedback at your level
• Balance True/False and a, b, c, d answers

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Why Make Your Own English Gem?

• You get practice at your own level
• You choose the topics you like
• Your Gem can always help you, anytime
• Your Gem never gets bored with doing the same thing over and over
• You can improve your English faster

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Tips for Good Prompts

• Be clear and simple
• Say what you want step by step
• Tell your Gem to wait for your answers
• Ask your Gem to use your English level

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Try It Yourself!

Think of a topic (like travel, animals, food, or sports) and try writing your own prompt.
For example:

You are a patient English teacher. Give me a short reading about food at the CEFR A2 level. Then ask 3 True/False questions, 3 vocabulary multiple choice questions, and 1 discussion question. Wait for my answer after each question.

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Final Advice

Making your own English-learning Gemini Gem is easy and fun! Just decide what you want, write a simple prompt, and let your Gem help you learn. Try different prompts and see what works best for you. You can even ask for changes while you are using the app. For example, "Please use easier English" or "I don't understand." 

The more you practice, the better you will get at both English and writing prompts!

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Good luck! If you have questions or want to share your prompt, write a comment below. Happy learning!

Introducing a Grammar Practice App (made with Google GEM)

 Introducing a Grammar Practice App (made with Google GEM)

In this blog I'd like to share a simple grammar practice app I also made with Google GEM. The direct link for the GEM is here...

https://gemini.google.com/gem/1WyVqYe6aWM2o_DEXy8BbtOgHS9Gy8ijL?usp=sharing

...but You can find it on my Google Site here:

https://sites.google.com/nua.ac.jp/tasdl/home.

My students at Nagoya University of the Arts use this app to practice English grammar at the the CEFR A2 level, but you can choose any from (A1–C1).

What it does

• Asks you whether you would like to talk with the Gem in English or Japanese
• Asks you what your language level is (CEFR, IELTS, Eiken, TOEIC, TOEFL)
• Asks what grammar topic you want to practice, for example: present simple, past simple vs. present perfect, articles, prepositions, comparatives, conditionals, reported speech. You can choose what you want to study or it will give you a list of things you might study at this level
• Gives level-appropriate practice:
  • Fill-in-the-gap
  • Sentence transformation
  • Short writing or dialogue prompts
• Gives one question at a time (so you can focus)
• Adapts to your answers:
  • If you are correct, it gives a slightly harder task or a related new point
  • If you need help, it gives a short, simple explanation and an easier step
• Uses a friendly tone and clear language at your level
• Gives immediate feedback on every answer:
  • Correction
  • Short “why” explanation of the grammar rule
  • A tip on how to reach the next CEFR step

How to use it

1. Go to the Google Site and sign in with your Google Account (links above).
2. Choose your language level (CEFR, EIKEN IELTS, TOEIC, TOEFL)
3. Choose your grammar topic, or ask the app to choose for you.
4. Answer one question at a time (gap-fill, transformation, or a short sentence).
5. Read the feedback:
   • See the correct answer
   • Read a simple reason why
   • Get one tip to improve
6. Keep going. The app will adapt: it gets a little harder if you are ready, or gives support if you need it.

Why it helps

• Practice is personalized to your level and topic
• Clear, level-appropriate explanations (A1–B1 simple; B2–C1 more detailed)
• Immediate corrections help you learn faster
• Adaptive steps keep the challenge right for you
• Focus is always on grammar progress (A1 to C1)

Examples of topics by CEFR level

• A1: be, have got, present simple, there is/are, a/an, plurals, in/on/at (time/place)
• A2: past simple, countable/uncountable + some/any/much/many, comparatives/superlatives, going to, present continuous
• B1: present perfect (ever/never/for/since), first conditional, modal verbs for ability/requests/advice, relative clauses (who/which/that)
• B2: present perfect continuous, second conditional, passive voice (present/past), reported speech (statements/requests), complex comparatives
• C1: mixed conditionals, advanced modal meanings (deduction/speculation), reduced relative clauses, cleft sentences for emphasis

Choose your level, pick a grammar topic, and begin. Steady practice, clear feedback, real progress.

Introducing a Reading Practice App (made with Google GEM)

 Introducing a Reading Practice App (made with Google GEM)

I’m happy to introduce a simple reading practice app I made with Google GEM. You can find it on my Google Site here: https://sites.google.com/nua.ac.jp/tasdl/home. The direct link to the Google Gem is https://gemini.google.com/gem/45a679eb56f7?usp=.

What the Google Gem does:

• Asks your CEFR level (A1–C1)
• Asks what topic you want to read about
• Gives you a short text at your level
• Checks understanding with True/False and multiple-choice questions
• Asks one follow-up question
• Gives friendly feedback with tips to improve

How to use it

1. Go to the Google Site and sign in with your Google Account (links above).
2. Choose your CEFR level (A2 is common for our students).
3. Choose a topic you like (for example: art, music, animals, food, travel, technology).
4. Read the text for your level and topic.
5. Answer the T/F and multiple-choice questions.
6. Answer one short follow-up question.
7. Read the feedback and try again.

Why it helps

• You read topics you enjoy
• The level fits your skills
• You learn from mistakes with clear feedback
• Short, regular practice builds confidence

Please free to explore the other options available on the TASDL page!

 

Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab: A Great Tool for Learning English

Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab is a free website that helps people learn English, especially listening skills. Since 1998, this site has offered many activities for learners of all levels, from beginner to advanced. It focuses on real-life English, with recordings that use different voices, speeds, and accents. These activities make it easier for learners to understand English in everyday situations.

Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab can be accessed at https://www.esl-lab.com/.

What Does Randall’s ESL Lab Offer?

The website is divided into different sections to help learners find the right activity for their level:

General Listening Quizzes

These quizzes are helpful for people who want to practice their listening at three different levels:

• Easy: For beginners who are learning basic words and phrases. The recordings are slow and simple.
• Intermediate: For learners who understand more vocabulary and want to hear English at a natural speed.
• Difficult: For advanced learners who need a challenge. The recordings are fast and use complex words.

Special Listening Activities

• English Interviews: These are conversations with native English speakers on different topics. They are good for learning how people talk in real life.
• Life Stories: These activities use stories about real-life events. The recordings have different voices and accents to help learners understand many ways English is spoken.
• Culture Videos: These short videos teach about culture, holidays, traditions, and daily life in English-speaking countries.

Extra Learning Resources

In addition to listening, Randall’s ESL Lab also has other tools to help learners improve their English.

Grammar Lessons

The site has grammar lessons for beginners, intermediate learners, and advanced students. These lessons explain how to use English grammar in sentences and real conversations.

Vocabulary Quizzes and Lessons

Learners can build their vocabulary with many lessons and quizzes. These activities focus on words used in everyday life, such as for shopping, travel, or work. They also help learners practice using words in the right way.

Language Games

The language games on Randall’s ESL Lab make learning English fun and interactive. These games are designed to help learners practice grammar, vocabulary, and listening skills in an enjoyable way. For example, there are matching games where learners pair words with meanings, fill-in-the-blank activities to complete sentences with the correct words, and quizzes that test knowledge of idioms or phrases. These games are perfect for breaking up traditional study routines, making learning feel less like work and more like play. They are ideal for both individual learners and classroom settings, as they encourage participation and focus while reinforcing key concepts.

Idioms and Cultural Insights

Idioms, like "break the ice" or "hit the books," can be hard to understand for new learners. Randall’s ESL Lab explains these expressions and shows how they are used in daily life. This helps learners sound more natural when speaking English.

Self-Study Guide

One of the most useful tools on the site is the Self-Study Guide, which helps learners organize their studies and use the website effectively. The guide includes step-by-step instructions on how to pick activities based on your level (easy, intermediate, or difficult) and goals, such as improving listening, vocabulary, or cultural knowledge.

The guide also encourages active learning by suggesting techniques such as listening to recordings multiple times, writing down new words, practicing speaking by repeating sentences, and summarizing what you heard to check your understanding. It even helps learners set goals, like completing one activity per day or focusing on specific topics like travel or business vocabulary.

Additionally, the guide offers advice on tracking your progress. For example, you can monitor how much better you understand recordings over time, how many new words you’ve learned, or how confident you feel in listening to English. For learners studying alone, this guide works as a personal roadmap to stay motivated and organized.

Pronunciation Practice

If you want to improve your accent, Randall also recommends another site called TrainYourAccent.com. It focuses on helping learners speak clearly and confidently.

Why Use Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab?

Randall’s ESL Lab is a great resource for learners because:

• It offers activities for all levels, from beginner to advanced.
• The lessons are free and available online anytime.
• It helps learners practice real-life English, not just textbook language.
• It has extra resources like games, grammar lessons, and cultural videos.
• The language games make learning fun and engaging, providing a break from traditional lessons.
• The Self-Study Guide helps learners stay organized, set goals, and track their progress, making it a perfect tool for independent learners.

How to Get Started

To start learning, visit Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab and choose an activity that matches your level. You can practice listening, learn new words, and improve your grammar all in one place. Whether you’re studying alone or with a teacher, this site has everything you need to improve your English.

Happy learning!