20 ChatGPT Prompts to Learn a Language
Help you (and your students) speak, write, listen, and read your way to fluency.
Learning a language with ChatGPT is totally doable - if you use the right prompts.
Most learners get stuck asking vague questions like “teach me Spanish.” That’s like asking someone to build you a house with no blueprints. The trick is knowing what to ask - and how to structure it - so ChatGPT becomes your personal tutor, not just a chatbot.
In this guide, you’ll get 20 powerful prompt types that cover speaking, listening, reading, and writing. They're practical, repeatable, and designed to get results. Whether you’re a beginner or brushing up after years away, this will save you time, build confidence, and help you make real progress.
Let’s break it down.
How to Use ChatGPT for Speaking and Listening
To practise speaking and listening with ChatGPT, use the voice feature in the ChatGPT mobile app. Tap the headphones icon to start a voice conversation. You speak, ChatGPT replies out loud - and you can respond naturally, just like a real conversation. This feature is available for everyone, but is limited unless you have the ChatGPT Plus subscription, which gives you unlimited access to GPT-4o. Plus users also get to use chat on their desktop, not just mobile versions.
Onto the prompts!
📖 Reading
1. Listening or Reading Drills
Prompt:
Give me a short story in intermediate French about [topic]. Then ask me 5 questions in French about it.
Why it works:
Builds comprehension and memory by processing text in context.
2. Reverse Questioning
Prompt:
Give me a short story in French about [topic], then ask me questions. After I answer, ask me to write 3 of my own questions based on the story.
Why it works:
Moves you from passive reading to active understanding.
3. Cloze (Gap-Fill) Exercises
Prompt:
Give me a short paragraph in German about [topic] with 5 blanks for missing verbs in the correct tense. I’ll try to fill them in.
Why it works:
Tests your grammar knowledge in a reading context.
4. False Friends
Prompt:
List 5 false friends between English and Spanish. Explain the real meanings and give an example sentence for each.
Why it works:
Improves vocabulary precision and reading clarity.
5. Word Families & Roots
Prompt:
Give me 10 French words with the root “port,” explain what the root means, and give a sentence for each word.
Why it works:
Builds deep vocabulary knowledge for reading fluency.
✍️ Writing
6. Error Correction
Prompt:
Here’s a paragraph I wrote in [language]. Can you correct it and explain the changes?
Why it works:
Helps you catch your own mistakes and write more accurately.
7. Sentence Builder
Prompt:
Give me 5 practice sentences using the word “aunque” (even though) in Spanish. I’ll try to translate them.
Why it works:
Builds confidence and control over syntax and structure.
8. Paraphrasing
Prompt:
Give me a sentence in Spanish, and I’ll try to rewrite it using different words. Tell me if it sounds natural.
Why it works:
Improves writing flexibility and vocabulary range.
9. Story Extension
Prompt:
Give me a 3-sentence story in Japanese. I’ll continue the story in 3 more sentences. Correct me.
Why it works:
Practices creative writing and sentence building.
10. Spaced Review & Quizzes
Prompt:
Quiz me on the 20 Spanish words we studied yesterday. Mix in a few from the day before too.
Why it works:
Builds long-term memory and writing recall under pressure.
🎧 Listening
11. Pronunciation Check (with TTS)
Prompt:
Can you give me a tongue-twister in Japanese to practise pronunciation? Then ask me to say it faster.
Why it works:
Great for using with speech tools to improve clarity and fluency.
12. Dictation
Prompt:
Say a sentence in spoken Italian (phonetically or with a TTS tool). I’ll write it out, and you tell me if I’m right.
Why it works:
Combines listening and writing—great for spelling and sound recognition.
13. Listening or Reading Drills (again)
Same as Reading prompt #1
Why it works:
Strengthens both skills when done with audio.
🗣️ Speaking
14. Conversation Practice
Prompt:
Let’s have a conversation in [language] about food/travel/work. Only reply in [language]. Correct my mistakes as we go.
Why it works:
Simulates natural conversation and helps build fluency.
15. Roleplay
Prompt:
Pretend you’re a waiter in France and I’m ordering dinner. Only speak in French. Keep it natural and correct me if I make mistakes.
Why it works:
Practises real-life interaction with instant feedback.
16. Translation Challenges
Prompt:
Give me 5 short sentences in English to translate into Italian. Then show me the correct Italian versions.
Why it works:
Pushes you to actively produce correct language.
17. Compare Registers
Prompt:
Show me how to say “I need help with this document” in informal, neutral, and formal Japanese.
Why it works:
Teaches tone and cultural awareness for more confident speaking.
18. Idiom Training
Prompt:
Teach me 5 common idioms in Italian used in everyday speech. Give examples and ask me to use them in a sentence.
Why it works:
Helps you sound more natural and expressive in conversation.
19. Cultural Knowledge
Prompt:
Tell me 3 customs I should know when visiting a French home. Teach me key phrases I’ll need.
Why it works:
Practises relevant phrases in cultural contexts where speaking matters.
🧠 Mixed-Skill Mastery
20. Flashcard Generator
Prompt:
Give me 20 useful verbs in German for travelling, with English translations and example sentences.
Why it works:
Boosts vocabulary across reading, writing, and speaking.
If you liked this article, you’ll love my books:
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🏰 Storytelling for Language Teachers - Use the power of storytelling to transform your lessons.
🤖 ChatGPT for Language Teachers 2025- A collection of AI prompts and techniques to work better, faster.
💭 Reflective Teaching Practice Journal - Improve your teaching in five minutes daily.