AI can give you a patient language-practice partner. Set the level, situation and feedback rules first, so the conversation does not turn into an endless red-pen exercise.
You will practise asking for directions in English through a text role-play. Allow about 20 minutes. The exercise is intended for adult learners and does not assess certified proficiency or pronunciation.
Read this example as text
Correct an error
- Where the library is?
- → Where is the library?
- Direct question: change word order.
Offer an alternative
- How can I get to the library?
- → Could you tell me how to get there?
- Both can be useful questions.
See the finished example
Read the complete finished example
This editor-written sample shows the finished exercise and feedback format. The town and directions are fictional. It is not a captured chatbot conversation or pronunciation assessment.
| Speaker | Turn |
|---|---|
| Local | Hello. Can I help you? |
| Learner 1 | Where the library is? |
| Local | The library is on Oak Street, next to the park. |
| Learner 2 | It is far? |
| Local | No. It is about five minutes on foot. |
| Learner 3 | I go straight and turn left? |
| Local | Yes. Go straight to the park, then turn left. |
Feedback after three learner turns
| Actual learner sentence | Correction | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Where the library is? | Where is the library? | For this direct question, put is before the subject. |
| It is far? | Is it far? | For a neutral yes/no question, put is first. Spoken intonation questions can occur, but this exercise practises the standard form. |
No extra correction is added at this checkpoint: the agreed limit is two. “Do I go straight and turn left?” can be modelled in the replay.
Replay with one change
| Speaker | Turn |
|---|---|
| Local | This time the library is next to the café. |
| Learner 4 | Where is the library? |
| Local | Go straight to the café. The library is next door. |
| Learner 5 | Is it far? |
| Local | No, about five minutes on foot. |
| Learner 6 | Do I turn left at the café? |
| Local | No. Stay on this street; the library is next to the café. |
Three practice targets based on these turns
- Use “Where is…?” for a direct location question (turns 1 and 4).
- Use “Is it…?” for a neutral yes/no question (turns 2 and 5).
- Use “Do I…?” to check an action (turns 3 and 6).
“How can I get to the library?” is also a valid request. It does not need replacing just to sound more elaborate.
1. Set the conversation rules
Help me practise English at approximately A2 level through a role-play.
Situation: I am a visitor asking how to reach a library in a fictional town.
You are a local resident. Ask or answer one short turn at a time.
Use clear everyday language and wait for my reply.
After every three learner turns, give at most two useful corrections.
Quote my original sentence, provide a correction and explain it briefly.
Separate actual errors from optional more natural wording.
Do not correct a sentence I did not write. At the end, give three
practice targets based on my actual replies. No invented real directions.The level is a requested difficulty setting, not a verified judgement about your ability. Adjust it if the conversation is consistently too easy or too difficult.
2. Attempt the task before requesting a model answer
Try a sentence such as “Excuse me, how can I get to the library?” Then ask a follow-up about distance or a landmark. Do not ask the assistant to write both sides while you only read; producing your own answer is the practice.
An invented learner sentence might be “Where the library is?” A useful correction for a direct question is “Where is the library?” The explanation should address word order, not merely say the revised sentence is better.
3. Separate errors from alternatives
“How can I get to the library?” and “Could you tell me how to get to the library?” can both be appropriate. The second is an alternative, not proof that the first was wrong.
If feedback seems questionable, ask:
Is my sentence grammatically incorrect, or are you suggesting a style
alternative? Explain the distinction. If usage varies by context or
English variety, say so. Give a reliable grammar-reference link if
you have access to sources; do not invent a citation.Check disputed explanations against a trusted learning reference or teacher. A chatbot can be inconsistent, especially with subtle usage questions.
4. Repeat a difficult exchange
Ask to replay the same situation with one changed detail. If you previously struggled to ask whether a place was nearby, practise that question again rather than starting an unrelated conversation.
Save a few useful phrases together with your own examples. Keep the correction table short enough to revisit.
5. Review what actually happened
The final feedback should point to your own turns. “Practise past perfect” is not a useful personalized target if the conversation contained no relevant example.
Too many corrections? Reduce the feedback frequency. Conversation drifts? Restate the situation and turn length. It claims to assess pronunciation from typed text? Ask it to limit feedback to the written language it can inspect.
For structured exercises and explanations, consult resources such as British Council LearnEnglish grammar. AI role-play complements reliable reference material; it does not replace checking uncertain feedback.