Fluency is defined as the ability to articulate with ease and accuracy.
It’s the difference between talking and expressing, between reading and comprehending.
If your goal is to speak a foreign language comfortably and confidently, fluency can be the trickiest hurdle to overcome – but also the most important.
Building fluency takes time and dedication. While it may not take long to memorize a few basic phrases or understand a simple text, real fluency requires dedication.
That’s not to say it can’t be done, however… or that there aren’t convenient, enjoyable ways to do it.
In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the innovative fluency building features offered by language-learning platform Busuu.
We’ll also share some tips to get the most out of each practice session, so that you can stay on track to reach your goals.
Read on to learn more about the best ways to build fluency with Busuu.
Busuu Learning
Learn a new language at your own pace! Join Busuu and get personalized lessons, practice with native speakers, and track your progress. Start your free trial today
What is Busuu?
Busuu is a language-learning program that provides engaging, expert-designed lessons in fourteen different languages.
At time of present writing, Busuu learners can select from the following different options:
- Arabic
- Chinese
- Dutch
- English
- French
- German
- Italian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Polish
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Spanish
- Turkish
Each language course takes learners through different levels of comprehension, with the levels aligned to the Common European Framework of Reference, or CEFR.
Brand new speakers would start off at Level A1, for example, while advanced beginners might be placed in A2.
Level B1 takes things up to a higher level of expression and comprehension, while B2 involves sophisticated skills such as discussing cultural topics and making convincing arguments.
Each of the languages offered by Busuu is available up to Level B2, aside from their English course, which actually goes all the way to C1.
Lessons are designed to be quick, painless, and effective, with bite-sized video clips and fun exercises to help you build your knowledge at your own pace.
Progress checks and quizzes along the way will help you monitor your growth, and certificates are awarded upon completion of a level.
The app is easy to use and connects users with a global network of fellow language learners, which can be a big help in staying motivated to keep learning.
Busuu is also one of the more affordable options available today, with a 12-month subscription averaging out to only $6.95 per month (monthly and six-month plans are available too, based on your learning needs).
Recently, Busuu has implemented cutting-edge AI-enhanced conversation technology to help learners overcome that trickiest obstacle: fluency.
Read on to learn more about how their exciting new feature, Busuu Conversations, can help you maximize your speaking and listening skills.
All About Busuu Conversations
The hardest thing about fluency is that it requires practice.
This means actually speaking, listening, and responding to real-time conversations in your target language.
This can be difficult to arrange, especially for folks who are learning a new language in addition to working, going to school, and/or raising busy families.
Fluency practice can also be nerve-wracking, especially for new speakers who know they’re going to make a lot of mistakes and might not be able to follow the conversation very well.
In fact, gathering the confidence to converse in a new language is so daunting that many children, upon coming to a new country, enter what’s called “The Silent Period.”
These kids typically understand the majority of what’s being said to them, but they find it too overwhelming to attempt to reply.
As adults trying to learn a second language, we can often fall into a Silent Period, too, especially when chances to practice are few and far between.
Native speakers talk quickly, use idioms, and may not be aware that we need them to go more slowly or repeat themselves.
They also might not understand our attempts at a reply, which can be frustrating (and embarrassing!).
Depending on the language you’re trying to speak, it might also be tricky to find a native speaking partner in the first place… especially one who’s available to chat around your own busy schedule.
Despite all of this, nothing can take the place of actually pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and forcing yourself to speak and listen in your target language.
No amount of automated recordings or fill-in-the-blank sessions can take the place of this key fluency step.
That’s where Busuu Conversations comes in.
Busuu Conversations harnesses the power of AI to provide learners with an on-demand conversation partner who not only speaks their target language, but speaks it at their exact level of comprehension.
Your Busuu Conversations buddy will be able to generate conversations on topics that will push you… without leaving you completely muddled and out of the loop.
Plus, talking to an AI partner can be a lot less intimidating than talking to a real person – no matter how patient or understanding they may be!
You can make as many mistakes as you need starting out, knowing that you’re not wasting anyone’s time or leaving them confused at your attempts.
As you grow in speed and skill, your Busuu Conversations partner will continue to level up, too, introducing new words and more complex topics to increase your abilities.
Not only that, but each Busuu Conversations session will then provide you with insights on the session.
You’ll be able to see which vocabulary words you mastered, as well as zero in on areas where you had trouble and might need more practice.
These analyses can be hugely beneficial to help you pinpoint exactly what you need to work on.
They can also be an encouraging metric to help you see just how much you actually understood and were able to say!
Tips for Maximizing Success with Busuu Conversations
So, how can you use this revolutionary technology for maximum gain? Read on to learn our top three tips for making the most of Busuu Conversations.
- Make a Conversation Plan. The convenience of Busuu Conversations means that you can strike up a chat with your conversation partner whenever it’s convenient for you.
This makes it easier to decide on a set time to practice fluency, whether it’s right before bed, on your lunch break, or for an hour every weekend while you tidy up the house.
Creating a schedule for yourself ensures that you’ll actually log enough time to benefit from your fluency practice.
Being able to center your Busuu conversations entirely around your own schedule (instead of trying to plan a Zoom call or meet up with a speaking tutor) makes having a fluency routine more realistic and doable than ever.
Remember, the more you speak, the more comfortable and skilled you’ll become… in a shorter amount of time, too!
- Hit Your Goals. Each AI-powered conversation on Busuu begins with a stated goal.
It might be as simple as ordering a meal, or as complex as expressing your spiritual viewpoint, but there will always be a target at the outset to keep your conversation focused.
This is a helpful way to monitor your progress and improve your speaking and listening abilities with a clear intention.
Instead of covering the same ground over and over (a common pitfall with a real life conversation partner who may not want to overwhelm you), you can focus on mastering each goal and becoming more articulate with each session.
Don’t be afraid to try new words, longer constructions, or more complicated phrases.
Busuu Conversations is a judgment-free zone, so there’s nothing stopping you from giving it your all and making those gains.
- Use Your Feedback. When we end a conversation with a friend in the real world, they’re not going to pop back by with a detailed analysis of everything we just said (well, hopefully not!).
Busuu Conversations, on the other hand, provides you with a wealth of information as soon as you wrap up your chat.
The app gives you an in-depth look at where you succeeded and where you might want to spend more time practicing after each conversation.
From vocabulary to grammar, your AI conversation partner will help you pinpoint exactly where you want to go next.
Having this information can empower you to tackle problem areas and reach your goals with more confidence.
Final Thoughts on Building Fluency with Busuu Conversations
Even though AI is rapidly encroaching on all areas of our lives, nothing can take the place of actual human interaction.
That’s why we learn new languages in the first place: to interact with people, whether it’s for travel, for love, or for work.
Developing fluency can be overwhelming, but it’s the cornerstone of speaking and understanding another language with confidence.
By utilizing the power of Busuu Conversations, you’ll be able to meet this challenge in a way that’s convenient, effective, judgment-free, and enjoyable.
Because the sooner you can master fluency, the sooner you can make real, meaningful connections with people… which is what learning a new language is really all about.
Have you used Busuu to learn a new language? Do you have insights or questions on how AI-powered conversations can help you become a more fluent speaker? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
