Echo Fluency
Hands-free speaking practice with native TTS and speech-to-text evaluation.
★ Free · iOS & Android · JLPT N5 → N1
Practice speaking Japanese with FluencyTool.
A free Japanese speaking app built around Echo Fluency. A JLPT-graded sentence plays in a native voice, the microphone opens automatically, you repeat it, your recording plays back, and speech-to-text evaluates the attempt.
Choose JLPT N5 through N1 and work through five sub-levels at each level. Start with the speaking loop, then review what needs another pass.
No subscription, no trial, no card on file.
4.8 · 320+ reviews
🌐 Multi-language UI
Romaji is available for the lowest N5 survival-phrase content. Above that entry point, you need to read hiragana and katakana. Kana Challenge teaches the kana first.
At a glance
One speaking-first study loop, organized around the same graded content across the app.
5
JLPT Levels
25
Content Sub-Levels
4
Learning Modes
2
Review Systems
Core feature · Echo Fluency
Echo Fluency automates the shadowing loop
Echo Fluency automates the listen → repeat → compare loop. Native audio plays, recording starts when playback ends, your voice plays back, and speech-to-text evaluates the attempt. A Purdue study of 30 intermediate Japanese learners found measurable changes in pausing patterns after a semester of shadowing; the study did not find faster delivery.
Try the loop · N5 sentencecard 03 / N5-1
今日は天気がいいですね。
kyō wa tenki ga ii desu ne.
“The weather is nice today, isn't it?”
Tap mic · listen, then repeatAuto-record starts after the prompt plays.
Ready to try it?Start with a JLPT-graded sentence.
⬇Download the Free App
1
Listen
A JLPT-graded sentence appears with furigana above kanji. Google Cloud TTS plays it at your chosen speed.
2
Repeat
The microphone opens automatically when playback ends, so the loop can run while your hands are busy.
3
Hear yourself
Your recording plays immediately after the native model, making differences easier to hear.
4
Get evaluated
Speech-to-text transcribes the attempt and compares it with the target. Incorrect sentences re-queue in the same session.
5
Review later
Mastering a sentence five times multiplies its speaking review interval by 4.
Three recording modes
- Echo Fluency (Auto): the full hands-free cycle.
- Timed: audio plays, then a fixed recording window opens.
- Hold to Record: push-to-talk, fully manual.
Why the loop matters
Practice the part a written test does not measure.
The JLPT's official level descriptions cover reading and listening. FluencyTool uses those same N5-N1 levels to organize speaking practice instead.
Read the shadowing guide →
JLPT progression
One curriculum from N5 to N1
Choose one of the five official JLPT levels, then work through five FluencyTool sub-levels inside it. That creates 25 content buckets for speaking practice.
N1
Advanced
5 sub-levels · complex grammar & literary forms
N2
Upper-intermediate
5 sub-levels · nuanced expression & reading fluency
N3
Intermediate
5 sub-levels · everyday conversation & conjunctions
N4
Elementary
5 sub-levels · basic sentences & common patterns
N5
Beginner
5 sub-levels · foundational vocabulary & survival phrases
The lowest N5 survival-phrase content includes romaji. Beyond that entry point, the course expects hiragana and katakana; furigana can appear above kanji.
Primary useJapanese speaking practice
Speaking methodEcho Fluency shadowing
EvaluationSpeech-to-text
PlatformsiOS · Android · browser
PriceFree + optional ad removal
PrerequisiteHiragana/katakana beyond entry survival content
Vocabulary
Flashcards on an SM-2 review schedule
Flashcards use Woźniak's original SM-2 description. Rate a card Again, Hard, Medium or Easy and its interval and ease factor adjust accordingly.
How SM-2 works
Your rating sets the next interval
Again
Resets to Learning. Short interval. Ease drops.
Hard
Interval shrinks. Stays in Learning. Ease drops.
Medium
Standard SM-2: previous interval multiplied by the ease factor.
Easy
Interval extends beyond standard. Ease factor rises.
After five or more correct reviews a card is treated as mature and moves to multi-week intervals.
The deck system
- ✓JLPT preset decksN5 to N1 vocabulary imported on first launch.
- ✓Custom decksWord, reading, definition and example.
- ✓Kanji lookupLong-press for on'yomi, kun'yomi, name readings and meanings.
- ✓SRS statusNew, Due Now and Later Today counts.
- ✓Furigana toggleShow or hide hiragana above kanji.
- ✓Cloud backupFirebase sync across devices.
Kanji lookup
Break down a word without leaving the session
Long-press a Japanese word to open a breakdown sheet. Kuromoji supplies the morphological parse and reading; KanjiAPI.dev supplies character data. The same parser powers the free Japanese Analyzer.
Progress
Know what to do when you open the app.
The dashboard keeps the daily decision small: sentences completed against your goal, flashcards due now, and your position across the 25 sub-levels.
Daily goal
Sentences completed against the target you set.
Cards due
The flashcards that need review now.
JLPT roadmap
Your current sub-level and the remaining new sentences ahead.
Activity history, reminders, session settings and Firebase cloud sync stay available without competing with the three numbers that drive the next session.
Supporting tools
Supporting tools use the same graded content
Speaking is the main loop. The supporting tools reuse the same JLPT-graded vocabulary, grammar and level structure.
Grammar Library
JLPT N5 through N1 patterns, native audio, examples and quizzes. Browse the web library.
Vocabulary games
Speed Tap, matching and Fever Pitch built from the same active word lists.
Crosswords
Japanese vocabulary puzzles using the same JLPT-graded decks.
Who it is for
Three reasons to start
You read kana but need speaking practice
Start at N5 Sub-level 1. The lowest survival-phrase content includes romaji; beyond that, the course expects hiragana and katakana, with furigana above kanji where available.
You are studying for the JLPT
Vocabulary, grammar and sentences are filtered by level. The JLPT itself measures reading and listening, while FluencyTool adds a speaking practice loop.
You can read more Japanese than you can say
Echo Fluency is built around repeated native audio, immediate recording playback and speech-to-text evaluation. Pair it with JLPT-graded news reading for written input.
Prerequisite
Romaji is available at the lowest N5 survival-phrase entry point. For content above that, you need to read hiragana and katakana. Kana Challenge teaches the kana first.
Start with Kana Challenge
Pricing
Free to use, with optional ad removal.
The core app is free to download and use. There is no trial, no card on file and no recurring subscription.
Core app$0
Echo Fluency, flashcards, grammar guide, vocabulary games and crosswords.
Optional purchaseAd removal
A single one-time in-app purchase removes banner ads permanently.
Product proof
See the current build
These screens show the speaking loop, evaluation, review system, grammar content, games and roadmap described above.
Reviews
What users have said
“Really good app for speaking Japanese! Listen to each phrase and repeat it, and thanks to the text-to-speech, the app checks your pronunciation.”Google Play review
“I really enjoy this app a lot and I cannot believe it is free. TIP: Hold your finger on a kanji and it explains each one.”Google Play review
“Best support I ever received. The mic wasn't working properly and the dev fixed it almost immediately. Amazing app for shadowing!”Google Play review
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is FluencyTool completely free?
Yes. Echo Fluency, flashcards, the full JLPT N5 to N1 grammar guide, vocabulary games and crosswords are all free. There is no trial, no card on file and no subscription. A single optional one-time in-app purchase removes banner ads.
How is FluencyTool different from Duolingo for Japanese?
Duolingo teaches Japanese through gamified matching and translation with occasional speaking prompts, and its course is not organised by JLPT level. FluencyTool is built around hands-free shadowing scored by speech-to-text, and every session is filtered to a JLPT level and sub-level you pick. Duolingo covers kana and writing; FluencyTool assumes kana for content beyond the lowest survival-phrase entry point, where romaji is available.
What JLPT levels does FluencyTool cover?
All five official JLPT levels, N5 through N1. Each is split into 5 sub-levels, giving 25 content buckets. The Dashboard Roadmap shows how many new sentences remain in each.
What is Echo Fluency and how does it work?
A native sentence plays via cloud TTS, your mic opens automatically, your voice plays back, then speech-to-text evaluates the attempt. Correct sentences are scheduled for later; missed ones re-queue. The loop is designed to be hands-free.
How does spaced repetition work?
Flashcards use Woźniak's original SM-2 description, with Again, Hard, Medium and Easy ratings adjusting intervals. Speaking sentences use a separate schedule where mastering a sentence 5 times multiplies its interval by 4.
What should I know before starting?
Romaji is available for the lowest N5 survival-phrase content. For content above that entry point, you need to read hiragana and katakana. Furigana can be displayed above kanji, and the onboarding wizard walks through the other preferences.
Does the app work offline?
Flashcard study, vocabulary games and crossword puzzles work fully offline. Echo Fluency requires an internet connection for cloud TTS audio playback and speech-to-text evaluation. The grammar guide loads web content and needs connectivity.
Is there an iPhone version?
Yes. FluencyTool is available on the App Store for iPhone alongside Android. There is also a browser version.
Can I use FluencyTool alongside Kana Challenge?
Kana Challenge teaches hiragana and katakana first. Once you can read kana, FluencyTool picks up with speaking, vocabulary and grammar; romaji remains available at the lowest N5 survival-phrase entry point.
Can I use FluencyTool to learn English instead of Japanese?
Yes. FluencyTool also has an English-speaking track graded by CEFR A1 through B2. Visit the English track to see the curriculum.
My Senpai ecosystem
Keep the same content moving between tools
These companion tools use the same JLPT-graded material and support different parts of the learning workflow.
Kana Challenge
Hiragana and katakana practice before FluencyTool.
Learn kana →
Grammar Library
The N5 to N1 grammar guide on the web with audio and quizzes.
Browse grammar →
YoMoo
JLPT-graded news reading using related vocabulary.
Read graded news →
My Senpai Crossword
A larger set of JLPT-vocabulary crosswords from the same word lists.
Play a puzzle →
Start speaking
Say the next sentence out loud.
Free on iOS and Android. Pick a JLPT level in the onboarding wizard and start your first session.
⬇Download the Free App✓ All core features free✓ No subscription✓ Android 7.0+ and iOS
