Praktika – AI Language Tutor

I don’t normally write reviews for apps, especially when they’re good, (because developers get cocky and then implement more paywalls, I hope that’s not the case here.) But this app? The free version works just wonders if you’re okay with an AI that gets its languages and accents confused (it’s a fun exercise for my brain to improve my Spanish from a thick french-accented AI, haha). This app is amazing for those who understand that practice and application of the targeted language is a more effective way to learn a language as opposed to memorizing syntax, grammar rules, and irrelevant vocabulary. This app allows me to personalize my experience while navigating a language. As a native English speaker, a Latina, this app will single handedly de-“no sabo” kid me. As someone who could previously not speak French, only read it, now I am speaking. I can’t wait until Portuguese is added. I absolutely can not wait. I anticipate accelerating to a level C1 of Spanish, Portuguese, and French through this app. This app is great news for polyglots and those aspiring to be polyglots.

I subscribed to this app as a premium user just over one week ago. I paid for a full year. I received an email promptly with the subject line “Your Subscription Is Ready - Activate Now” at the email address that I used to subscribe. I clicked on the link and attempted to log in. I received the message that there is no account associated with that email address. I attempted to contact help by responding to the confirmation email as it instructed. I received an automated message indicating that a ticket had been opened. But I hear nothing more. I reached out again several times. I reached out again via email and through the app itself twice. No response. I sent a message through the app’s website contact page. I received another automated response. Then, I did get a message from Mira. It was suggested that I do four things: 1. Log in using the same email that I used to buy it. (I did this; it didn’t work. 2., Check if Apple created a Hidden Email. First off, I didn’t use my Apple ID, but I still checked. Nope, this was not an issue. 3., Confirm the purchase through Stripe’s billing portal. I did so (using the SAME EMAIL ADDRESS). Charge confirmed. 4., In the app, go to Profile > Manage Subscription > Restore Past Purchase. This didn’t work because there is no account associated with my email. I IMMEDIATELY responded to Mira after checking these four things with my results. No response. I have since sent additional requests for support through the website, app, and email. NO RESPONSE.

I’m enjoying using Praktika. I like that there are structured lessons making me feel like I’m in a classroom but getting all the 1:1 speaking practice I need. However, I’m frustrated by discrepancies in the advertising vs what actually appears in the app. For example, the Progress screen doesn’t tell me how much time I’ve spent learning today. The description in the App Store says one of the tutors is “Valentina,” a Mexican Spanish tutor. But she doesn’t appear as a choice in the app. Also, the quality of the tutors’ voices vary greatly. I understand that the free tutors sound computerized, but even the paid ones have huge differences in quality—Camila has a very clear voice, but Lucia’s voice sounds scratchy and like she’s talking too close to the microphone. There are also several tutors available in Spanish that I refuse to use because they pronounce R’s noticeably hard—it comes across as learning Spanish from a tutor whose native language is not Spanish. I wish there was a way to hide the transcription without going full-on video call mode. Also, Lucia’s graphics are distractingly fake. No matter which tutor I’ve tried, their lips do not sync well with the speech. Unfortunately, the avatar tutors come across as gimmicky, as much as I love the concept and want to love the app. The discrepancies in the app vs advertising are enough to make me question if there was an app update I missed, but I refreshed the App Store and it says I’m all up to date. I can only wonder if the app looks really different based on what language you’re learning, and if maybe they’ve put their efforts toward the English course but not as much toward Spanish?