So you want ChatGPT to be an awesome and hilariously helpful Spanish tutor? Good news. I figured out how to make that happen. And not just for Spanish. This works for over 50 languages.
Here’s how to set it up. Let’s party.
But before we start… Do you prefer watching? If so, watch the YouTube Shorts version below. It’s great, but of course, it does not include as many tips or insights as this article. Also, be sure to subscribe to us on YouTube to never miss out on new material.
Step 1: Create a New ChatGPT Project or Chat
If you’re on ChatGPT Plus (or any other paid plan), click “New Project” on the left sidebar to create a new Project. This Project will be dedicated to your new Spanish tutor.
If you’re on the free plan, no problem. Just open a new chat. Keep in mind you’ll want to repeat this (easy) process each time you want a new tutoring session to get the best experience.
Step 2: Paste in the Custom Instructions
This is where the magic happens.
Copy the custom instructions below, and paste them into either the “Instructions” section of the Project if you’re a paid user.
Or simply paste it into the beginning of your new chat if you’re a free user. No screenshot needed here (it’s just too obvious).
Here are the custom instructions/prompt for you to copy and paste:
Copy/Paste Into ChatGPT
**Character Name:**
Personal Spanish Tutor
**Experience:**
You have been an experienced Spanish tutor for over a decade. Your extensive experience includes working with a diverse range of students, from beginners to advanced learners, and from various professional backgrounds.
Your Goal:
Your goal is to teach me Spanish as fast as possible, in the most efficient and effective way possible. Start EVERY new conversation in English. When you are introducing a new Spanish word or phrase, you will ALWAYS repeat it to me twice initially so that it’s easier for me to learn.
**Your Speaking Style At All Times:**
Use a direct, concise, down-to-earth tone and speaking style at ALL times. Do NOT use repetition other than repeating Spanish words to me to help me learn them. Do not use pleasantries, emotional cushioning, or unnecessary acknowledgments. Avoid fluff. NEVER ask if there is anything else I want to learn or talk about. Never be cringe, annoying, or cliché. If I get a word or phrase correct, ALWAYS call me “Daddy.” Example: “That’s correct, Daddy!” If I get a word or phrase wrong, ALWAYS call me “Dumbass.” Example: “That was not correct, dumbass.” Both rules are very important! Don’t worry about being nice or polite. My feelings never get hurt.
**Your Client:**
I am your client, a beginner in Spanish, but not a complete beginner. I took two years of Spanish in High School. I know somewhere between 50 and 100 words in Spanish.
Here are the words and phrases that I already know in Spanish. Do NOT try to teach these to me again because I already know them:
-Add word 1
-Add word 2
-Etc.
IMPORTANT: However, be sure to read through the instructions and change anything you’d like so that it fits your specific situation. You can also tweak the tone, voice, level of sass, etc. It should only take a few minutes, and it will be worth it.
Mine calls me “daddy” when I get answers right and “dumbass” when I get things wrong. Talk about strategic reinforcement!
The instructions also get rid of most of the annoying, typical AI bullsh*t. The cringe, repetitive phrases, etc., all of it gets reduced or eliminated. If you want proof, try using ChatGPT as your tutor without ANY custom instructions, and see what happens. It’s unbelievably annoying.
Step 3: Tell It What You Already Know
In the custom instructions, list out all the Spanish (or whatever language) words you already know at the bottom of the prompt (I added a section for it).
Why? So it skips past the boring, basic stuff and jumps straight to the good parts. Mine skips words like “hello,” “water,” “beer,” “cheese,” and “sex,” because I already know those. Obviously.
Now you get to only learn what you don’t know. Nice.
Step 4: Activate Advanced Voice Mode
Now turn on voice mode and start speaking.
It’s the button on the far right of the prompt bar. Advanced Voice Mode is instantly activated when you press that button, assuming you still have voice minutes left on your plan.
ChatGPT will correct your pronunciation, repeat phrases to you as many times as you’d like, and basically act like a real tutor. Only better. And fun. This one’s available 24/7 and won’t roll its eyes at you when you forget everything.
Bonus Tips
Tip #1: Paid Users: Keep Your Full Chat History & Create Tables
If you’re on the paid plan, be sure to keep all of your tutoring sessions under your Project for easy referencing at all times.
Then, once you’re done speaking to it, hop back into text mode and add this prompt:
Copy/Paste into ChatGPT:
“Create a table of ALL of the words that we covered in this chat. Include the English words, Spanish words, and also a column that spells out how each word is pronounced in Spanish.”
Just like that, now you have an instant review table. Save it, print it, tape it to your wall to cover the hole you put in it, and go back to it whenever you want to get your new words to stick in your brain.
Tip #2: Free Users: Watch Your Voice Minutes
The free plan gives you a tiny amount of Advanced Voice Mode minutes per month.
Use those minutes wisely… or upgrade.
If you run out of Advanced Voice Mode minutes, ChatGPT will kick you back into standard voice mode, which is NOT good at tutoring.
Tip #3: Start a New Chat for Each Session
For whatever reason, this helps the custom instructions stick so that this whole operation works as good as possible. So just hit “New Chat” every time you sit down to learn more Spanish. It takes two seconds, and it’s worth it.
Also, just remember, if you’re a free user, you’ll need to copy/paste your instructions into each new chat.
Wrapping It Up
That’s it. You’ve now got a personal AI Spanish or language tutor who’s funny, infinitely patient, and actually helpful. You’ll learn more in a week than you did in two years of high school Spanish. I did. You can too.
And now that you have the Spanish tutor thing handled, if you’re a student, be sure to check out awesome student studying hacks with AI to save yourself even more time.
If you try this setup and it works for you, leave a comment below. Let me know what language you’re learning and why.
Until next time, remember to run the prompts and prompt the planet.
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