When we want to learn a new language, it often goes like this: We grab a textbook, read new combinations of letters, learn the words by heart, memorise the word order, fill in the exercises, and do it again and again. Doesn't that sound familiar?
Many of us can still recall specific grammar rules for the masculine and feminine nouns in French or the verb endings in Spanish. But can we actually speak the language? Do we feel confident communicating in it?
For a long time, language learning relied on textbook-based methods rooted in classical language teaching, which focused on intellectual growth over fluency. When books were the primary source of information, these were the only available approaches.
Learning new words by reading them in a textbook, or perhaps practicing them aloud through an app, is a popular approach to language learning. But, learning grammar rules can only get us so far—it’s using the language in real situations that truly helps us become confident and fluent speakers. Today, with the help of new technology and fun interactive tools we are able to move away from these traditional methods and focus on real-world language use.
We were inspired by how children learn languages and with the help of Charles University in Prague, we’ve created a new, fun, and effective way for adults to learn.
