Earlier in the month, we saw that Google Translate is getting its own language learning tools a la Duolingo. This week, the company is “rolling out this beta experience more broadly”. Considering its beta status, it’s not exactly widely available, and supported languages are extremely limited.
Accessing the feature means hitting the Practice button in the app, but it’s unclear where it will be placed. Beyond that, you can then select your skill level and a goal for your practice session. If none come to mind, there are a few presets that you can choose from too.
Google says that these lessons are generated via Gemini, which involve two types of practices. One has you listen to a line and tapping words you recognise, and the other is speaking to the Translate app itself. If you’ve been completely stumped by the latter, hints will be made available.
Overall, it sounds like there’s a bit of Duolingo here in terms of gamifying the learning of languages. But as mentioned, this beta rollout is pretty limiting. To start, Malaysia is not one of the countries that’s getting it. And even if we got it, this beta experience is limited to “English speakers learning Spanish and French” or Spanish, French, and Portuguese speakers learning English”. No word on a wider rollout for now, unfortunately.
As an aside, Google Translate is also getting live conversation translations. This one is more extensive, available in over 70 languages. The only wrinkle here, depending on your perspective, is that it won’t use your voice the way the Pixel 10 does.
(Source:: Google [1], [2])
