Recently, I had my international students use an AI speaking app. They can practice anytime at night, and it can even correct their pronunciation. They all really like it.

Their pronunciation can improve. But the student in my class who chats with AI the most went to an English Corner last week. As soon as he had to speak to real people, he got so nervous that he couldn’t say a word.

Maybe he just hasn’t practiced enough. If he practices for a while longer, he’ll naturally become more confident.

I don’t think that’s it. When you talk to AI, it won’t laugh at you if you make a mistake, and if you speak slowly, it’ll wait for you. Real people aren’t that polite, are they? They speak quickly and may even interrupt you.

But for shy students, that’s exactly the advantage. I have one student who never speaks up in class, but can chat with AI for half an hour straight.

Then AI is like a beginner’s village. It’s fine for practicing the basics, but in the end you still have to come out and fight real people to level up.

If you stay in the beginner’s village too long, you won’t want to come out. So what are you planning to do?

I’ll go with him to the next English Corner. We’ll first find someone who speaks a little more slowly—even just having a couple of sentences with them would be fine.

What if he still doesn’t dare to speak?

Then he can start by standing to the side and listening. Saying one sentence is still better than last time.