How to Use ChatGPT to Converse in Japanese – Your New Language Mate for When You’ve Got no Mates!

Surprised Pikachu 😲

Learning Japanese can seem like a big mountain to climb, especially if you’re not surrounded by native speakers (and let's be real, most of the times it's just you and your textbook, right? No, just me?). Anyway, what if I told you that you could have an unlimited, 24/7 conversation partner in your pocket? Sounds like magic, right? Well, by the looks of it Pikachu thinks so but – it’s just ChatGPT!

Thanks to this awesome AI tool, you can practice Japanese anytime, anywhere, whether you're just starting out or already breezing through N2, charging full speed ahead toward N1 and beyond! Here’s how to take full advantage of ChatGPT to level up your Japanese.

The Secret Sauce: ChatGPT's Voice Feature!

I recently discovered something super cool about ChatGPT and just had to share it. We all know how you can ask it questions and it spits out information to you in the blink of an eye. But, here's what perhaps you didn't know, you can actually talk to it. Yup, you heard me right – talk, like a real conversation!

All you gotta do is install the app, tap a tiny button, and boom—you’re in the voice screen! From there, you can start chatting away to your heart's content

Press the highlighted button to access the voice feature!

Once you see this voice screen, you're on!

Talk About Anything – No Judgement Zone!

Now, here’s the best part: You can talk to ChatGPT about anything. Want to chat about your favorite anime, or maybe ask about grammar? Go for it! And if you’re not catching the drift of its responses, just ask ChatGPT to speak in simpler Japanese and it will adjust its level for you.すごいでしょう！ It’s like having a language partner who’s always ready to explain things in a way that makes sense.

Get Your Japanese Skills Evaluated – For Free!

ChatGPT can even evaluate your Japanese and give you feedback. That means you can practice speaking without the worry of being misunderstood or embarrassed. Forget expensive lessons! With ChatGPT, you’re in the driver’s seat, practicing at your own pace without the fear of saying something ’wrong’.

So, the other day, I asked ChatGPT what my Japanese level was, and it told me I was probably around N3, getting close to N2. Fair enough, I thought, maybe it's right—I've still got some work to do. But then I remembered something…I already passed the N2, almost 4 years ago. Cue the long pause in conversation as I reflect on where I went wrong over the past 4 years 😩

Yeah, anyway turns out ChatGPT doesn’t always get it right, but it’s all good. I mean, it’s an AI, not a human. No hard feelings, right? RIGHT?

Tackle Your Weak Points - Adjusting Parameters

One of the coolest things about this voice feature is how you can fine-tune the settings to match your needs. For me, though, there's one thing that still trips me up—keigo. It's that formal, polite Japanese that makes my brain freeze! So, I thought, why not ask ChatGPT to talk to me in keigo? Big mistake. I had absolutely no clue what it was saying! I ended up making a total "what just happened?" surpirsed pikachu face (see above), then buried myself in my pillow, diving straight back into my hikikomori life.

Final Thoughts

ChatGPT obviously isn't the same as chatting to a real human, but it's about as close as you'll get to the real thing. If you don't have the money to hire a private tutor or just want to get in a bit more speaking practice and don't want to talk to yourself like a crazy person, I definitely recommend giving it a try. The fact that you can customise it to your own personal preferences and adjust the parameters of the conversation is a huge win in my books.

So, what are you waiting for? Download the app, start chatting, and take your Japanese skills to the next level. Let me know what you think!