Google has introduced a suite of experimental language learning applications. These tools make it easier to productive anyone to unlock the world of knowledge that comes with fluency in new languages. This new initiative, part of Google Labs, supports 22 different languages and introduces three unique experiments: “Tiny Lesson,” “Slang Hang,” and “Word Cam.” Its core mission is to deliver personalized lessons that meet individual learning needs and apply to real life scenarios.
The initial experience, “Tiny Lesson,” is all about providing bite-sized vocabulary and grammar tips to matched real-life situations. Through it, users can better understand how to advocate for their real world experiences. This ranges from needing a new passport after losing one, to having to inform the police about a stolen passport. The thought experiment pushes players to interact with the language in real time, making them better conversationalists in the process.
Google has released “Slang Hang” in conjunction with “Tiny Lesson.” This exciting new feature goes a long way toward preparing learners to speak a new language with the conversational tone of a native. This resource will assist you to engage in conversation in a more authentic way with native speakers. For one, it gives you permission to step out of stilted forms of expression.
The third experiment, “Word Cam,” employs the device’s camera to identify objects in the user’s environment and label them in the target language. This image-based method enables students to associate vocabulary terms with actual objects in the world around them, making learning more engaging and natural. As Google states, “sometimes you just need words for the things in front of you, because it can show you how much you just don’t know yet.”
Aisha Malik, a consumer news reporter at TechCrunch, has been following from the frontlines of all the recent action around these disruptive technologies. She holds an honours bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto and a master’s degree in journalism from Western University. Malik came to TechCrunch in 2021, following her success as a telecom reporter at MobileSyrup.
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Their arrival marks a hopeful sign that Google is serious about elevating language education with technology. What Google does is use the power of AI and beautifully-designed user interfaces. Their work is focused towards an engaging learning space that meets the unique needs of language learners around the globe.
