Babbel Overhauls App with Greatly Expanded Offering
New set of features delivers unmatched new learning ecosystem
Babbel Live: virtual group classes with engaging world class teachers
Games, stories, culture bites and videos to satisfy every learner’s needs
Babbel, the world’s no.1 selling language-learning app, today announces the launch of a variety of new language-learning experiences: Babbel Live is an innovative and engaging take on online classes, bringing Babbel’s empirically proven learning method to life via uniquely motivating and certified trainers. Available stand-alone or added to an existing subscription, the group classes are conversation-driven and will have learners engaged from the start. Users can select their preferred class based on their level, schedule and desired teacher. On top of this, after adding Podcasts to its app in 2020, Babbel expands further with additional in-app learning experiences: Games are your quick fix for a short and addictive brush-up on vocab and spelling, while Culture Bites, Short Stories** and Videos deliver content and insider knowledge that keeps you engaged while delivering both language and cultural lessons. As always with Babbel, the new features are expert-created and based on real-life scenarios that you can use from the get-go.
“In 2020 we saw a massive growth in online language learning,” says CRO and U.S. CEO Julie Hansen / CEO Arne Schepker. “We also realized that our learners were fast to adapt using additional learning experiences like our in-app podcasts, which have already been downloaded millions of times. Now with Babbel Live and these engaging new features, we are committed to widening our portfolio and building on Babbel’s already unparalleled learning product. No other app in the market offers this breadth of language-learning tools, all built to appeal to the different ways that users learn. In addition, Babbel’s new offerings fit into our learners’ lifestyles, whether users are in “focus mode” and want to concentrate on a lesson, need a hands-free way to learn on the go, or just want to chill and play a vocabulary game.”
“In a time when we see our app being used more than ever before, we’re really happy to offer even more learning experiences that help our learners succeed in their language journey,” says Geoff Stead, CPO at Babbel. “By introducing live conversations and lessons, we close the loop for many different user needs, interests and learning styles while doubling down on learning effectiveness.”
While Babbel Live can be added to existing Babbel subscriptions, it can also be purchased on its own and includes full access to the Babbel app. Classes directly relate to existing course content, so in-app lessons can be used to prepare for or refresh after a Live session. All of Babbel’s new learning experiences make it easier for users to find something that suits their needs, build and stick to learning habits and therefore learn more effectively. Even if learners are just enjoying a game while waiting for the train, they can have confidence that this is helping them on their language journey.
All of Babbel’s new language learning experiences in detail:
Babbel Live More than just an online class, Babbel Live delivers an engaging, non-judgemental learning space featuring hundreds of classes available each week. Learn with other people in small groups and with certified language teachers while staying in control of your progress. Classes are integrated into the Babbel app’s curriculum and pedagogy, and each teacher is hand-picked and vetted to provide inspiration across topics and language learning levels. Just as fitness trainers have different styles to motivate, Babbel Live teachers bring their own je ne sais quoi to each class.
Games Serious learning doesn’t always need to be serious. Babbel’s new Games sneak daily vocab and spelling exercises into users' routines via fun, interactive content. From appeasing ghosts in a labyrinth, to avoiding sinking a speedboat or derailing a train, skills like word order and spelling are put to the test in a playful way. New featured games are Phraze Maze (Arrange sentences), Sink or Spell (Spelling), and Word Trax (Spelling).
Short Stories Learn how your newly acquired vocabulary works in real-life situations with Babbel’s Short Stories. Familiar scenarios, like stumbling through a blind date or navigating a foreign supermarket, set the scene for an entertaining and effective learning experience. Each story is just a few minutes long and perfect for those more passive learning moments.
Culture Bites Culture Bites are for all learners that really want to blend in and / or impress their friends with cultivated insider knowledge. Quick, fun facts and insights about the culture of your learning language and its native speakers will prepare you to add interesting tidbits to any conversation.
Videos Babbel’s Videos delve deeper into specific topics to enrich the learning experience for each language. Ever wondered why Spanish sounds so different in different parts of the world, or how people really greet each other on the streets of Madrid? Native speakers bring their expertise to easily digestible and engaging videos, leveraging sight, sound and motion to enhance language acquisition.
