diff --git a/speech_recognition/__init__.py b/speech_recognition/__init__.py
index 095d8e89..37b17292 100644
--- a/speech_recognition/__init__.py
+++ b/speech_recognition/__init__.py
@@ -1395,13 +1395,12 @@ def recognize_vosk(self, audio_data, language='en'):
         from vosk import Model, KaldiRecognizer
         
         assert isinstance(audio_data, AudioData), "Data must be audio data"
-        assert isinstance(language, str), "Language data"
         
         if not hasattr(self, 'vosk_model'):
             if not os.path.exists("model"):
                 return "Please download the model from https://github.com/alphacep/vosk-api/blob/master/doc/models.md and unpack as 'model' in the current folder."
                 exit (1)
-            self.vosk_model = Model()
+            self.vosk_model = Model("model")
 
         rec = KaldiRecognizer(self.vosk_model, 16000);