How to Use AI to Practise Speaking English
Using Claude For Regular, Free English Speaking Practice
Speaking practice is one of the hardest parts of learning English to do on your own.
You can read articles, watch videos, and learn vocabulary quite easily by yourself. But speaking is different. You need to actually produce the language in real time, and for many learners, that is where confidence drops. Maybe you don’t have anyone to practise with. Maybe lessons are too expensive to do regularly. Maybe you just freeze when it is time to speak.
In this post, I’ll show you how to use Claude, a free AI tool, to practise speaking English on your own. You’ll see how to set it up, what to say, how to get useful feedback, and how to turn it into a simple regular habit.
How AI Can Help You Practise Speaking English
I’m not suggesting that AI should ever replace real life conversation, with all its messiness and unpredictability. But as a tool, it can give learners something many of them desperately need: a low pressure place to practise.
You can speak imperfectly. You can pause. You can start a sentence and abandon it halfway through. You can ask for help. You can try again.
Nothing terrible happens. You’re in a safe space where you can make silly mistakes without fear of judgement.
That matters more than people sometimes realise.
If speaking English feels stressful, embarrassing, or high stakes, you are less likely to practise often enough. If it feels safe and accessible, you are far more likely to build a regular habit. And that consistency is what helps you improve over time.
What is Claude?
Claude is an AI assistant made by Anthropic. You can use it in your browser or on your phone, and it offers voice features that make it a practical tool for spoken English practice. If you haven’t tried it yet, it’s worth downloading the app and having a go.
For spoken English practice, I’d recommend using it on your phone. Most people have access to their phones throughout the day, so it is almost like having a speaking partner in your pocket. That makes it ideal if you want to do a bit of speaking practice while walking, making coffee, or sitting in the car before work.
Claude can respond to questions, hold a conversation, and help you explore ideas in a natural way. It is not human, and it will not behave exactly like a real conversation partner. It will not interrupt you in quite the same way or make you deal with facial expressions, social tension, or the unpredictability of real interaction. But that does not make it useless. Quite the opposite.
How to Use Claude to Practise Speaking English
1. Open Claude on your phone or in your browser
Open a new chat and you’ll see a blank chat window. Do not let the blank page put you off. The next step is simply to tell Claude exactly what kind of speaking practice you want.
2. Start with a clear prompt
This is probably the most important part.
The more clearly you explain what you want, the better the conversation tends to be. A vague prompt will usually give you a vague result. A more specific prompt creates a much more useful exchange.
You could say something like this:
I’d like to practise my English speaking. Can you have a conversation with me? I’m an upper-intermediate learner and I want to talk about making decisions under pressure. After our conversation, please give me feedback on my vocabulary and suggest any phrases I could say in a more natural or sophisticated way.
This works well because it tells Claude:
what you want to practise
what level you are
what topic you want to discuss
what kind of feedback you want afterwards
In other words, you are setting the scene.
3. Use your voice, not your keyboard
This is crucial.
If your goal is to improve spoken English, you need to actually speak. Typing may still be helpful for some things, but typing is not speaking practice.
Use the microphone on your phone and answer out loud. It might feel a bit strange to begin with, but that is part of it. You are training yourself to find the words, keep going, and express yourself in real time.
4. Let the conversation continue
Once Claude responds, answer naturally.
Do not worry too much about sounding polished. The point is not to perform beautifully. The point is to keep going.
If you hesitate, keep going.
If you rephrase, keep going.
If you lose your thread slightly, keep going.
That is what real spoken language looks like.
The beauty of using AI for English learners is that it gives you a chance to build fluency without the social pressure that often comes with speaking to another person.
5. Ask for feedback afterwards
After a few exchanges, ask for feedback on your language.
You could say:
Can you give me feedback on the language I used in our conversation? What worked well, and is there anything I could express in a more natural or sophisticated way?
This is where the practice becomes especially useful.
You are not just speaking randomly. You are speaking, reflecting, noticing, and trying again.
That loop is where growth happens:
Speak. Get feedback. Try again.
What AI cannot replace
I think it is important to say this clearly. AI is a tool. It is not a complete answer. It cannot fully replace the spontaneity of real conversation.
It cannot teach you how to read someone’s face, deal with interruptions, manage group dynamics, or experience that very human feeling of connection that comes from being properly listened to.
Speaking to a real person still gives you something different, and something important.
But many learners are not choosing between AI practice and perfect human interaction every day. They are choosing between some speaking practice and almost none. And in that situation, using AI to practise speaking English can be a very sensible and effective step.
Can AI really help you improve spoken English?
Yes, I think it can, especially if your biggest problem is lack of speaking opportunities.
Will it make you fluent overnight? No.
Will it replace real conversation? Also no.
But can it help you speak more often, feel less anxious, notice useful language, and gradually close the gap between what you understand and what you can produce? Yes, absolutely.
And for many learners, that is exactly what is needed.
A simple place to start
If you want to try this today, keep it very simple.
Open Claude.
Choose one topic.
Speak for five to ten minutes.
Ask for feedback.
Notice one or two useful phrases.
Try again tomorrow.
That is enough.
Want extra prompts to help you get started?
I’ve put together a PDF called 20 English Speaking Prompts to Use With Claude, designed to help you practise speaking English with AI in a more natural and meaningful way.
Inside, you’ll find prompts that go beyond small talk and help you get into the kind of conversations that actually stretch your English and build confidence.
You can get it in my shop for £2.99
A practical PDF for upper-intermediate to advanced learners who want more speaking practice without the pressure of a formal setting. These 20 prompts are designed for use with Claude, a free AI tool, and cover everything from small talk and storytelling to professional English and deeper conversation. Use them whenever you have a spare ten minutes. No preparation needed.
And if you would like more than solo practice, and want a real conversation with a real person who will listen, challenge you, and help you find your voice in English, you can find out more about my one to one sessions here
