Create an Arabic language bot with ChatGPT and Anki

In our changing world of learning languages, new tools are important to improve our study habits and keep us interested.

In this guest article, I will share insights and tips on how to create your own personalized ChatGPT agent with Anki vocabulary files to help with your Arabic language studies. Of course, this approach is also suitable for all other languages.

Let’s see how it works.

Enhancing Anki with ChatGPT

For language enthusiasts like me, Anki has been key in learning Arabic, but even the best programs can get a bit boring. This is where AI becomes exciting. By using Anki with a customized version of ChatGPT, I have created a lively way to learn that keeps me motivated and engaged.

Important considerations

I only recommend a personalized ChatGPT to individuals who are able to evaluate ChatGPT’s responses. There have been rare instances where its answers or corrections were incorrect. However, after I questioned the response, the program provided the correct solution.

What the Anki-ChatGPT bot will look like

We will look at two different tasks our Anki-ChatGPT bot can do.

Task 1: Choose a word from the vocabulary and make a new sentence

The AI agent should choose a word from my vocabulary file and generate a new sentence from it. I should then translate this sentence into Arabic.

So, how does it work? Note The numbers in the picture correspond with the numbers in the list.

1. ChatGPT provides us with a German sentence based on the vocab we uploaded: Die Explosion der Bombe verursache großes Chaos. In English: The explosion of the bomb caused great chaos.
2. We enter an Arabic translation: تسبب انفجار القنبلة في فوضى عارمة
3. ChatGPT reviews our response and provides feedback on mistakes, explaining corrections.

Task 2: Translating sentences from the vocab file to Arabic

The AI agent looks for any Arabic or German word that exists in the vocabulary collection – and uses it to form a new, random sentence. We are then supposed to translate this sentence.

In the following example, I will deliberately include a mistake so that we can see how ChatGPT reacts to that.

Here is the explanation what ChatGPT did:

1. ChatGPT tells me to do this: Sentence: Can you show me the way to the train station? (German: Kannst du mir den Wege zum Bahnhof zeigen?) Translate the sentence into Arabic and I’ll give you feedback! 😊
2. I entered the sentence: هل يمكنك أن تدلني على الطريق إلى المطار؟ which means: “Can you show me the way to the airport?”
3. ChatGPT finds and corrects my mistakes: Your translation means: “Can you show me the way to the airport?” This is not entirely correct, as the original sentence uses “train station” (محطة القطار) and not “airport” (المطار). Here is the correct translation: Can you show me the way to the train station? ➡️ هل يمكنك أن تدلني على الطريق إلى محطة القطار

Note: I prefer inputting my responses in writing, but verbal input is also possible and works quite well.

Now let’s see how to create such an agent.

How to create your personal ChatGPT learning bot

In under 5 minutes, we can make a personal Anki bot using ChatGPT. Here’s how it works.

Step 1: Set up your personal ChatGPT bot

To create a personal ChatGPT, go to your dashboard (https://chatgpt.com/gpts), click on your personal account icon in the top-right corner and select Customize ChatGPT.

Step 2: Export the Anki files

You now need to export your Anki vocabulary list as a text file (.txt). Important: You need to select “Notes in Plain Text”. Do not choose to include HTML nor to include tags.

This file contains two columns separated by a tab:

• the first column contains Arabic words or phrases;
• the second column contains their English translations.

Step 3: Prepare the export file

Import the text file into Excel to ensure that the two columns were correctly separated. I used the “Text to Columns” feature in Excel to properly structure the data.

Afterward, save the file in Excel format.

Step 4: Import the Anki data to ChatGPT

Next, you need to upload the file to ChatGPT.

Step 5: Give directions to your new AI agent

You now need to explain to ChatGPT in words that the file consists of two columns: the first one with Arabic terms and the second one with their German translations.

You have to give the new agent an identity and some directions. What the bot should do and what his role is. You enter this information in the field instructions (German: Hinweise).

Then, you must define the two specific tasks for ChatGPT as described in the examples (task 1 and task 2) above. You enter this information in the field conversation starters (German: Gesprächsaufhänger)

1. creating new sentences using the vocabulary from the list (task 1)
2. presenting existing sentences from your Anki vocabulary list (task 2)

Step 6: Final result

You should now see two buttons containing the text of our two tasks (symbolized by the two numbers in the screenshot).

1. Erstelle einen deutschen… This is task 1: creating new sentences using the vocabulary from the list.
2. Gib einen deutschen… This is task 2: presenting existing sentences from your Anki vocabulary list.

I hope it worked. I think this ChatGPT is a fun way to supplement your Anki learning experience. If you know German, you can try my personal bot – here is the link.

Note: The feature image was generated by AI and is for illustration purposes only. The Arabic script in the image makes no sense – so please don’t try to decipher it ;-)