Every day we’re contacted by thousands of users and people interested in learning languages. We receive praise and criticism, inspiring stories about individuals’ journeys learning a language, and, sometimes, concerns about language learning. A few of these questions come up time and time again, so we collected answers to the top 5 questions we get from users and put them all in one place. Without further ado, here’s our helpful Babbel FAQ:
Question #1: How much time do I have to invest in Babbel?
Our users often doubt that they have enough time to learn a language. Does a full calendar spell the end of learning a language?
I’m actually far too busy to learn a new language. I don’t even have enough time to see my friends or call my mom often enough. Is there even time for Babbel in my schedule?
We can relate to this question. Integrating learning a language into your daily routine requires planning and persistence. But don’t panic! You’re not alone, because we’re your language learning coaches — not just in the app, but also with the helpful Babbel Magazine. Did you know, for example, that language learning experts recommend only 15 minutes of learning per day? And thanks to our Offline Mode, you can do this while commuting, even if there’s no Wifi on the subway.
Question #2: Am I too old to learn a new language?
We hear this question every day:
It’s been decades since I went to school. And they always say that learning is easier during childhood. Can I even learn a language at my age?
The short answer is: Yes, of course! You actually have a few advantages when you learn a language when you’re older because you gain many skills over the years that make it easier to learn a language. And that’s not just a theory! One of our users, Gianni, is over 100 years old and contacted us because he was learning English with Babbel (even at his ripe age). His motivation was that he wanted to Skype with his great-granddaughter in the United States. We love stories like this because it shows us that the right motivation is more important than everything else, including age.
Question #3: How long until I can speak my new language?
Naturally, you want to know how effective Babbel is. This also means that you want to know when you can reap the fruits of your labor:
Do I have to do a single lesson, the entire Beginner’s Course or all 1,000 hours of content in order to speak a new language?
The short answer is: It depends what you want to do with your new language. Let’s take a deeper look at this topic. According to an independent study, after just 3 weeks of learning Spanish with Babbel, you’ll be able to have a conversation in Spanish. This is thanks to our team of over 100 language learning experts who create the lesson materials for each of the 98 different language combinations we offer.
With Babbel, you can develop your basic abilities in a language or broaden your existing knowledge depending on your needs. All of our lessons build upon each other, but you can skip lessons if you already know the material. Better yet, our courses are organized by topic so you can pick the type of vocabulary you want to learn. Going on holiday? We’ve got a lesson with the most important content prepared. You won’t be able to speak fluently upon finishing, but you will be able to check into your hotel, order, pay, ask for directions and make small talk.
Question #4: How do I even learn a new language?
You have a strong determination to learn a language, but when it comes down to it you realize:
I don’t know how I learn a language best. Somehow I’ve never learned how learning works or which method works best for me.
There are many different ways to learn a language. Babbel activates all your senses by combining audio and visual inputs, as well as prompting you to speak the language. This way everyone benefits regardless of their best learning method. On top of this, our linguists have devised a range of different exercises to train your passive and active competencies. Why is this important? We’ve designed our lessons so that you practice new material until it’s stored in your long-term memory.
To us, effective learning is the most important thing: We offer course material tailored to both your mother tongue and the language you’re learning. Why? Well, a German learns Dutch differently than a Spaniard, because German and Dutch are closely related and therefore have a range of linguistic similarities. In the same way, we feature different vocabulary at the beginning of our French courses compared to our Russian courses because of the cultural differences between these countries.
Question #5: Will I be able to figure out this new technology?
Many of our users are tech-savvy, but for others, just the word “app” sends a shiver down their spine:
Might the Babbel app be a bit too complicated for me? Will I manage or do I need to get used to the system first?
One of the unique advantages of Babbel is that you can decide which devices you want to learn with, which content you want to study, and how much time you want to invest. Our technology is one of our massive advantages because our user-friendly interface, synchronization of your learning materials across all your devices, and our Offline Mode all make your learning easier. We don’t want you to waste time trying to get to grips with the features — instead, we want you to be able to get started learning straight away.
Have a more specific question? Head on over to our Customer Service page for more Babbel FAQ answers, or get in contact with one of our awesome Customer Service team members.