Introduction
As language learners, we’re always talking about immersion — textbooks, regular books, audiobooks, podcasts, YouTube channels, courses, what have you. And now AI is quickly becoming a part of that process and conversation. It’s already showing up in our daily routines, sometimes behind the scenes and sometimes directly when we open ChatGPT to ask a question or get feedback.
For me, ChatGPT has become part of my daily study routine. It’s like having a patient tutor who never gets tired of my grammar mistakes. I’m currently learning German, Spanish, and Hungarian — all while working full-time — so I’ve had to find ways to make my study time more efficient.
AI gets talked about in nearly every area of life right now, and while I don’t use it for everything, it does help me streamline a lot of the smaller, repetitive tasks — like lesson planning, outline creation, and quick grammar checks.
Here are the exact ChatGPT prompts I use every week for vocabulary, grammar, writing, and conversation practice — and how they help me study smarter, not harder.
Why ChatGPT Works for Language Learning
Like a lot of AI tools, ChatGPT makes language learning both more accessible and more efficient. It gives instant feedback and corrections, adapts to your level (whether you’re A1 or C2), and can mimic simple real-life conversations.
For example, if I just finished an iTalki lesson and there was something I didn’t quite understand — maybe my tutor said a phrase I couldn’t keep up with — I’ll go to ChatGPT and recreate that conversation. I might say:
“Pretend you’re my tutor. I’m a B1 German learner. We just talked about daily routines, but I didn’t understand part of what you said. Can you write out that dialogue again slowly and explain it in English?”
Within seconds, I have a version I can study, highlight, or reuse.
It’s also great for decision-making paralysis. Let’s say I want to study reflexive verbs in German but don’t know where to start. I can simply ask:
“Give me 20 example sentences in German practicing reflexive verbs. I’m at a B1 level.”
Or even:
“What are the 20 most common reflexive verbs in German? Give me both the English translation and a short example sentence.”
Done. No flipping through pages, no Googling for exercises. It’s quick, clear, and customizable.
My Prompts for Vocabulary Building
Decision fatigue is a real problem when learning a language. Some days, you just don’t know how to study. ChatGPT takes that off your plate by instantly generating structure.
Here are a few of my go-to prompts:
- “Give me 20 words about daily routines in German with example sentences.”
- “Create a mini-quiz to test me on these words: [insert list].”
- “Write a short story using these 10 Spanish words about travel.”
Within seconds, I have an exercise, explanation, or even a mini-lesson plan. It turns passive vocabulary lists into something active and usable.
I’ll usually transfer new words into LingQ, a spreadsheet, or a notebook. The point isn’t just memorizing — it’s using those words in real context, and ChatGPT helps create that context instantly.
My Prompts for Grammar Practice
This is where I focus on precision and structure. Grammar can feel intimidating, but with AI, I can break it down into smaller steps.
Here are two ways I use it:
- Quick explanations:
“Explain the difference between war and wäre in German with examples.” - Corrections and rewrites:
“Take a look at this paragraph I wrote in Spanish and tell me what mistakes I made. Then rewrite it correctly and explain why.”
I’ll often ask ChatGPT to first explain in English, then again in the target language so I can see both sides. That repetition helps me retain the concept better.
These short grammar sessions make it easier to understand why something is correct, not just memorize the rule.
My Prompts for Speaking and Writing
Sometimes you don’t have a conversation partner available — and that’s where AI comes in handy. I use ChatGPT to simulate conversations or writing exchanges that feel surprisingly real.
Here are a few examples:
- “Pretend we’re friends who haven’t seen each other in a while — write me a letter and let’s be pen pals.”
- “Act as my coworker. Let’s practice a workplace email exchange.”
- “Ask me five follow-up questions like a native speaker would.”
You can easily turn these into low-stakes speaking or writing exercises. I’ll sometimes read my answers aloud, record them, and then paste them back into ChatGPT for correction. It’s practice on demand — flexible, consistent, and gamified.
It gives you control over your practice environment, allowing repetition until you feel comfortable using the language in real life.
How to Create Your Own Prompts
The key to using ChatGPT effectively is specificity. Be clear about your level, your goal, and what role you want it to play. When you use AI, start by answering three questions: Who am I? Who are you? What are we trying to do?”
Example:
“Act as my A2-level Spanish tutor and quiz me on food vocabulary. I am a A2 level learner who is a native English speaker.”
Or:
“Pretend you’re a native Hungarian teacher helping me prepare for small talk at a café. Ask me questions and correct my mistakes. I am new to the Hungarian Language.”
Think about your weak spots: a confusing textbook section, an iTalki conversation that tripped you up, or a phrase you’ve always avoided saying. Then build your prompts around those challenges.
I also recommend asking ChatGPT to summarize what it thinks you’re asking before you start. I’ll say:
“Can you explain what you think my goal is and how you’re going to help me achieve it?”
That ensures you’re on the same page.
Lastly, keep a running list of your favorite prompts in a Notes app or Google Doc. Over time, you’ll build your own AI-powered toolkit.
Final Thoughts
I think AI does a great job of making language learning more accessible, flexible, and efficient. It’s not perfect, and it definitely doesn’t replace human teachers — after all, learning a language is about connecting with other people, not just an algorithm.
AI helps us practice, prepare, and improve — but human connection is still the heart of it.
Maybe that’s a topic for another post.
For now, I encourage you to try one of these prompts today — or tell us what prompts you’ve been using. How do you use AI for language learning? What are its downsides, or how could it be improved?
Thanks for reading.
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