Speak easy

Can AI and language learning apps really help you achieve fluency?

- Hazel Tang

In January, as the threat of a TikTok ban loomed in the US over security concerns, an unexpected trend took off.

Calling themselves "Tik Tok refugees", hordes of the app's estimated 170 million American users began learning Chinese as they flocked to another Chinese-owned short video platform - Xiaohongshu or RedNote.

This has subsequently sparked a wave of cross-cultural exchanges, from a new user in New York asking about university tuition in China, to Chinese users asking Americans about their careers and for help with their English homework.

On Jan 14, language learning mobile application Duolingo reported a 216 per cent increase in new US-based Chinese learners compared with the previous year. Requests to Duolingo for the number of learners prior and after the surge went unanswered.

Even without this digital migration frenzy, globalisation and the steady rise in international travel have long driven interest in cross-language communication.

Mobile apps have further fuelled this trend, offering accessible, on-the-go options, transforming language learning from a classroom-based experience into an interactive, gamified experience.

The global language learning app market, valued at US$4.96 billion (S$6.7 billion) in 2024, is projected to reach US$16.69 billion by 2032, according to Business Research Insights.

Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have supercharged language learning apps, offering more personalised, adaptive learning pathways that are more engaging and effective.

AI-powered features can, among other things, analyse users' progress, identify weak areas and provide tailored practice exercises for improvement.

But not everyone is a believer. While apps make learning languages convenient and accessible, there is a growing debate about their effectiveness in helping users achieve true fluency.