Summary

If you want to improve your speaking and pronunciation in a new language, you might want to check out Copycat Cafe. It’s a language learning resource that uses real conversations to build speaking skills. Copycat Cafe currently offers French, Spanish, Italian and German courses with Japanese planned for the future.

Copycat Cafe emphasizes speaking from the very beginning, and this works in 3 steps: watch, copy, chat. You first watch conversations between native speakers with the text blurred so you focus on listening first. Next, you repeat each line out loud and receive an AI pronunciation score from 0 to 100 percent, so you know where you went wrong. Finally, you use what you have been practicing in simple AI conversations. Every language course on Copycat Cafe has around 200 lessons based on everyday situations, such as ordering coffee or asking for directions. Lessons take about 15 minutes a day, and the audio is available at both slow and normal speeds to help train your ear. While apps like Duolingo and Babbel teach you to recognize the language you’re learning, Copycat Cafe’s aim is to help you actually produce the language so you’re more confident and comfortable in real-life conversations.

Copycat Cafe requires you to speak out loud and focuses primarily on speaking practice, so it may not be suitable for learners who prefer quiet study or want more comprehensive or tutor-led courses. It also doesn’t offer a free plan, and you will be required to enter your billing information before you begin the trial. That said, if this isn’t a dealbreaker for you, Copycat Cafe is a good option to try if your main goal is to speak confidently.