diff --git a/utils/build.gradle b/utils/build.gradle
index dddb14a..1af4ad1 100644
--- a/utils/build.gradle
+++ b/utils/build.gradle
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ plugins {
     id 'org.ajoberstar.grgit'
 }
 
-def libVersion = '1.0.5-SNAPSHOT'
+def libVersion = '1.0.6-SNAPSHOT'
 def group = "ai.elimu.common"
 def artifact = "utils"
 
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ android {
     defaultConfig {
         minSdk 26
 
-        versionCode 1000005
+        versionCode 1000006
         versionName libVersion
         testInstrumentationRunner "androidx.test.runner.AndroidJUnitRunner"
         consumerProguardFiles "consumer-rules.pro"
diff --git a/utils/src/main/java/ai/elimu/common/utils/di/TextToSpeechWrapper.kt b/utils/src/main/java/ai/elimu/common/utils/di/TextToSpeechWrapper.kt
index d432f74..b1a730d 100644
--- a/utils/src/main/java/ai/elimu/common/utils/di/TextToSpeechWrapper.kt
+++ b/utils/src/main/java/ai/elimu/common/utils/di/TextToSpeechWrapper.kt
@@ -35,11 +35,11 @@ class TextToSpeechWrapper(context: Context, language: String, contentProviderId:
             Log.d(TAG, "init TextToSpeech DONE. status: $status")
             if (status == TextToSpeech.SUCCESS) {
                 tts.setSpeechRate(0.5f)
-                if (language.isNotEmpty()) {
-                    tts.setLanguage(language.toLanguage().toLocale())
-                } else {
-                    tts.setLanguage(contentProviderLanguage.toLanguage().toLocale())
+
+                val sttLanguage = language.ifEmpty {
+                    contentProviderLanguage
                 }
+                tts.setLanguage(sttLanguage.lowercase().toLanguage().toLocale())
             } else {
                 Log.e(TAG, "TTS initialization failed with status: $status")
             }