Tech Matters: Learn a foreign language with Google | News, Sports, Jobs

The company has added new AI-powered tools to its Translate app, making it more than the phrase-by-phrase service many of us know. These updates are rolling out now to iOS and Android. They’re free, and instead of flashcards or quizzes, the focus is on conversation.

The first new feature is Live Translate. As you speak, the app surfaces both audio and text translations in real time, letting you follow along without losing track. Gemini models, the same AI behind other Google tools, handle translations in more than 70 languages. They’re trained to separate voices from background noise, so you should be able to use the feature in a café or airport without too much frustration. Having both audio and text is handy: you can listen in the moment and then check the text later.

The second feature is practice mode. You choose your current level (beginner, intermediate or advanced) and set a goal. Maybe you want to manage basic travel tasks or be able to chat casually. The app then offers scenarios such as greeting someone or asking for directions. You can pick a listening exercise, where you tap the words you hear, or a speaking exercise, where you try out a short conversation.

For now, practice is limited to English speakers learning Spanish or French, and Spanish, French and Portuguese speakers learning English. It’s a modest start, but useful if your main interest is picking up practical phrases rather than studying grammar rules.

That difference points to how Translate compares with other language-learning apps. Duolingo, for instance, ranks No. 5 in Education in Apple’s App Store and has millions of loyal users. It takes a more traditional path with short lessons, streaks and rewards. But while Duolingo is structured, it relies on memorization, and the free version comes with ads unless you pay for a subscription.

Translate, on the other hand, drops you straight into conversations. If your goal is to get comfortable speaking or listening, that may be enough. If you want to master a language from the ground up, a structured app still has advantages. The choice depends on whether you value fluency in real-life situations or steady progress through a curriculum.

None of these tools replace actual human interaction, but they can make it easier to get started. You might try practicing with a coworker or neighbor, then reinforce what you learned in the app later. If you’re traveling, Translate can help you order a meal or ask for directions, and then you can review those exchanges when you’re back at your hotel. Even small efforts build confidence over time.

Google has been steadily expanding Translate’s reach with AI. Last year, it added 110 new languages. On its Pixel phones, Voice Translate can already mimic the speaker’s own voice in another language instead of a robotic one. With these updates, Translate is moving closer to being both a learning tool and a travel companion.

“These updates are made possible by advancements in AI and machine learning,” wrote Matt Sheets, Google’s product manager for Translate. “As we continue to push the boundaries of language processing and understanding, we are able to serve a wider range of languages and improve the quality and speed of translations.”

For most of us, that means the smartphone we carry every day may be enough to get started with a new language. The combination of real-time translation and simple practice tools won’t make you fluent, but it can give you the confidence to take the first step — and that’s often the hardest part.

Leslie Meredith has been writing about technology for more than a decade. As a mom of four, value, usefulness and online safety take priority. Have a question? Email Leslie at [email protected].