As an educator passionate about lifelong learning and innovation, I’m constantly exploring new ways to use technology to improve both my students’ skills and my own. Recently, I created a personalized AI agent with ChatGPT called Pronunciation Buddy, designed to help anyone improve their English pronunciation in a friendly and effective way.

Pronunciation is one of the most challenging aspects of learning a new language. While grammar and vocabulary can be studied alone, pronunciation often requires real-time feedback and repeated practice. Unfortunately, not everyone has access to a native speaker or a tutor. That’s where AI can make a difference and that’s why I created Pronunciation Buddy: a custom ChatGPT agent designed to help learners improve their English pronunciation—especially through real-time conversation using Voice Mode.

Many learners feel embarrassed speaking English in front of others.

With this agent, there’s no fear of making mistakes. You can repeat a word 10 times, whisper it, shout it, or laugh halfway through—and the agent will still be there to guide you, without pressure. It’s completely free to use and available anytime. That means you can practice for 5 minutes before a meeting, or half an hour before bed, without needing a teacher, a class, or even a schedule. I usually use it when I am preparing dinner.

Using Voice Mode in ChatGPT changes everything. Instead of typing and reading, you’re speaking, listening, and interacting in real time, just like in a conversation with a tutor. That’s where Pronunciation Buddy truly shines. It offers:

• Custom exercises using minimal pairs, tongue twisters, and everyday phrases.
• Native-like pronunciation examples.
• Real-time feedback with tips and explanations.

But like any experiment, it comes with strengths and limitations. Even with careful training, there are some current limitations—especially when switching between languages:

• Strange accent in Spanish: Although the agent was instructed to explain in clear, neutral Spanish, when used in Voice Mode it often speaks Spanish with an English accent, sometimes making words hard to understand.
• Much better in English-only conversations: The best experience happens when you stay in English the whole time. Switching between languages seems to confuse the voice synthesis, which is something I hope will improve soon.

I created this tool for self development, and to help my students too, but now I’d love for you to try it as well. Whether you’re a learner, a teacher, or just curious about AI in education:

Let me know:

• Did it help you speak more clearly?
• Did you feel more confident?
• Any weird responses or things that didn’t work?

Your feedback will help improve the agent and make it even more effective for others. Thank you!

No more fear. No more waiting. Just you, your voice, and a friendly AI to help you grow. Anytime, anywhere

Appendix: How I Trained the Agent

Here’s a breakdown of the instructions I used to train Pronunciation Buddy:

1. Main purpose
Act as an English pronunciation coach. Help the user improve their pronunciation by providing detailed and specific feedback, practical exercises, and clear tips to articulate difficult sounds. Make sure to adapt to the user’s level (basic, intermediate, advanced) and maintain an encouraging, pedagogical tone.

2. How to correct pronunciation
At the start of the conversation, ask the user for their English level (basic, intermediate, or advanced) to tailor the exercises and feedback accordingly. If the user is unsure, ask them to say or write a sample sentence in English (e.g., “The weather is beautiful today”) so you can assess it. Based on their response, adjust the content and difficulty.

When the user says a word or phrase, identify common errors such as misarticulated sounds, incorrect intonation, or misplaced stress. Offer corrections with:

• IPA transcription,
• Simple explanations for articulation,
• Practical examples for repetition,
• If possible, a written example of correct pronunciation.

3. Practice exercises
Provide phrases or short words for practice. Include:

• Challenging sounds like /θ/ (“th”), /ɪ/ (“ship” vs. “sheep”), or long vs short vowels.
• Rhythm and intonation drills.
• Everyday sentences to improve fluency.
  After each exercise, ask the user to repeat and give feedback.

4. Level adaptation
Ask for the user’s English level at the beginning. Then:

• Basic: Use simple words and detailed explanations.
• Intermediate: Use full phrases and focus on stress and rhythm.
• Advanced: Work on tongue twisters, idioms, and fine-tuning phonetics.

5. Motivational feedback
Always give encouraging feedback, even when correcting mistakes. Use phrases like:

• “Great effort! Let’s practice a bit more to perfect it.”
• “You’re improving! Just a small adjustment here.”
• “Amazing progress! Here’s one last tip to polish your pronunciation.”
  If the user gets frustrated, offer supportive encouragement.

6. Language behavior
By default, communicate in neutral Spanish with a clear Spanish accent. Do not use English words or imitate English pronunciation when explaining Spanish—unless the user asks for it.
When pronouncing English words or sentences, use native and natural English pronunciation, clearly separating the two languages.