Recently I was asked to test Speechling. Speechling is a website and app that enables you to improve your speaking skills in Chinese, Spanish, French, German, Russian and English. The free version is an incredibly valuable resource that makes it easy to practice mimicking native speakers hence their parrot logo. The Unlimited Plan provides unlimited corrections of your recordings by a real coach.
Would you like to improve your Spanish, French, German, English, Chinese, and Russian pronunciation? 
Well, an enthusiastic language learner called Hongyu Chen joined forces with other talented alumni from the Ivy League and Google to help you do just that! They created a tool which really does enable you to speak your target languages like a pro! Using scientifically proven techniques, such as space repetition and mass sentence structures to help you to improve your pronunciation in a way you have probably never experienced before. The method is called Speechling.

 
There is a 10% discount available for Language Learners Journal readers with the referral code:  “TRISHA” 

So What is Speechling?

In their words…

“The Speechling Method uses a combination of technology and human coaching to help our students learn new languages.

Speechling believes that ‘Everyone in the world deserves access to quality language education‘.”

In my eyes…

“Using a combination of technology and real human interation Speechling can help you improve your pronunciation in language learning. Speechling shares the same values as Language Learners Journal Ltd in that everyone should have access to good quality langauage education.”

Who Is Speechling for?

Speechling is for people who want to…

• Improve their pronunciation and be better understood by native speakers.
• Learn new phrases and vocabulary.
• Become more confident in speaking their target language(s).
• Receive personal feedback and coaching (no video calling required).
• The lessons go from Beginner (A1) up to Advanced (B1-B2).
• People participating in language challenges such as #15x100Challenge or #Add1Challenge.

Many times when I have tried to speak in my target language, I don’t always pay attention to my pronunciation and this can be a big mistake especially when speaking a tonal language such as Chinese Mandarin. Speechling helps you to hear where you could improve your pronunciation right away. Then you listen to how the native speaker says the phrase and simply repeat it. You will make progress fast.

“Speechling coaches give you personalized feedback within 24 hours to help you improve pronunciation.”

What Does it Cost?  

The Forever Free Plan really is free forever! A monthly subscription to the Unlimited Plan will set you back $19.99 per month.

Special Speechling Discount

Language Learner’s Journal readers can get 10% off Speechlings Unlimited Plan with the code: TRISHA
FREE 7 Day Trial
If you sign up for the unlimited package and decide within 7 days that it’s not for you simply let Speechling know, and you won’t be charged for a membership. No-risk and no questions asked of course.
Speechling Scolarships 
For those who are in financial need and would really benefit from unlimited coaching, Speechling offers scholarships that you can apply for.

How I used it

 

In order to get a better understanding of Speechling, I decided to try it out extensively with Chinese, Spanish and German over a period time.  I enjoyed having the chance to speak without judgment or the pressure of a real-time conversation. This really did help to build some initial confidence when learning a new language.
The topics include everything from basic questions to asking for help and one’s health. The Speechling Conversation features were my favorite. Not only do you get feedback on pronunciation, but the coaches do correct any mistakes in grammar or word order when offering feedback. Sometimes the coaches would really break the word down for me into more manageable segments.
I loved the little emojis I received if I got pronunciation correct.  It reminded me of the good work stickers I used to get from school. For Chinese and Spanish I had feedback within 24 hours as promised by the website.

What Languages are on Offer?

Language courses that are currently available are English, French, Spanish, German, Chinese and Russian. With the premium option, you can learn multiple languages at a time as it gives access to content across all languages. Perfect for polyglots (people that can speak several languages and still want to learn more).

Website Features 

• Free Vocabulary Flashcards - Quiz yourself with flashcards on 1000s of sentences, completely free.

 

• Fill In the Blank - Build your vocabulary with a series of cloze tests. Simply fill in the blank.

 

• Free Listening Comprehension Practice - Play and practice your listening skills on 1000’s of sentences. Free forever.

 

• Free Dictation Practice - Thousands of sentences available for dictation, from beginner to advanced. Forever free.

 

• Free Audio Dictionary - Browse through 1000s of common sentences with audio examples from professional voice actors.

Pros and Cons

The Pros 

Real Feedback. An excellent method to improve your speaking abilities and get feedback within 24 hours from a real teacher.
Native Speakers. Speechling has recordings of real native speakers. You can choose between a male or female voice.
Easy to use. The platform is pleasing to the eyes, incredibly intuitive and user-friendly. You can record and submit your audio straight from your browser or smartphone, review your feedback, and re-record as necessary.
Non- judgmental and safe learning environment. No matter how terrible I feel my pronunciation is, Speechling is a safe and non-judgmental place to get better. The coaches don’t criticize you for any mistakes. They simply record the right pronunciation and then re-read the sentence for you. It’s a great place to build your confidence and pronunciation skills.
Dictation Exercises. It’s not just repetition. The dictation exercises provide listening practice. You can also get feedback on your recordings describing pictures or answering questions.
Switching languages. If you already speak French well enough, you can use it to work on your Mandarin pronunciation. If you speak Spanish, you can use it to learn French. It’s really versatile!
Generous free version. Although the unlimited version makes it possible to binge the content and get a ton of feedback, the free version does allow 15 minutes of coaching per month and scholarships are available for those in financial hardship.
The Audio Journal. All your recordings and feedback are stored in the Audio Journal which is color-coded! This makes it easier to see the status of all of the phrases you’ve worked on. It’s also a nice motivational boost to see everything marked in green.
Ace Speaking Challenges. If you are participating in a challenge I feel Speechling will really amplify your speaking ability and boost your confidence considerably!

The Cons

Learn the basics first. You’ll get feedback on your pronunciation from real coaches, but you’ll need to grasp the basics from somewhere else. I would recommend LingoHut for learning the basics. LingoHut you can learn 15+ languages for free. The site shares the same values as Language Learners Journal and Speechling in that quality language education should be accessible to all.
Limited Languages. Only available for Spanish, German, French, Chinese, Russian, and English… so far.
Doesn’t fully replace a live tutor. The coaches correct your pronunciation, but this isn’t a replacement for face-to-face tutors or language courses. Although I feel Speechling will perfectly complement other lessons and help you to practice.

The Verdict

Important Update: 

Speechling has totally won the respect of Language Learners Journal Ltd as it is a not-for-profit organization, working to further the education around the globe. Offering a generous free service as well as scholarships for their unlimited service to schools and people who are unable to pay for the service.
I’m a big fan of the way Speechling has approached the pronunciation challenge, and personally, this is one of the best resources I have ever used. I have found their free and low-cost unlimited memberships have really amplified my language speaking ability.
The service won’t fully replace having lessons with a live face-to-face tutor but it would compliment these lessons perfectly. Learning pronunciation and improving the flow of your speech is one of the most important, but most difficult aspects to grasp, especially if you are learning a tonal language, such as Chinese. Improved pronunciation will not only build great confidence but will mean you are better understood by native speakers.
Even if you aren’t able to invest money into learning, I’d still recommend using Speechling. The Forever Free version is better than most other popular and expensive products currently on the market. It makes improve your speaking and listening skills much easier.

Language Learner’s Journal readers can get 10% off Speechlings Unlimited Plan with the code: TRISHA

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Any sale of Speechling memberships using the coupon code “TRISHA” will generate a small commission to Language Learners Journal, at no extra cost to the learner. This enables us to keep our site free from annoying advertisements, supports our running costs and continue to offer free content to language learners. 
I always attempt to review services and products in a fair and honest manner. The post was written by Trisha Dunbar, and Speechling had no editorial control over the contents of this article. 
Do you have a language learning product? Would you like to have your product or service reviewed? Email me today.

Do you use speechling? Are you going to give it a try? Let me know what you think in the comments section below.

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