background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">One of the language learning apps I know that is innovative, Busuu. It is also an app like Duolingo, a digital language-learning platform that supports the development of reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. I first used it to study the Japanese language and my experience has been nothing but great. Busuu does not just study language as an isolated skill but as a social, communicative, and multimodal practice grounded in authentic language use.

What I like about this app is that there is a feature in the app where you reach a certain level or proficiency and they would give you a test that would be like listening to a conversation of two or more people where they provide you with transcripts but Romanized Japanese characters and as the conversation goes on you have to think and fill in the blanks which can be words, a phrase, or a whole sentence that is a suitable response based on the context of conversation, this is actually called Cloze reading. Another feature is the community feedback system which we users around the globe depending on their native tongue are also the ones who give feedback to people regarding their pronunciation, grammar, etc. we are familiar with which is actually helpful in a way even if not all users are experts, to see a big community helping each other in learning a language is a good experience. Additionally, Busuu uses technology to personalize learning paths based on the learner’s goals, proficiency level, and performance, which supports differentiated instruction and inclusive literacy practices. In lessons, there would always be visual, text, and audio to cater to different learners. You can also review lessons, speak with native speakers, practice pronunciation, etc. which makes Busuu a fun space to learn language.

To conclude, Busuu is innovative because it aligns with contemporary theories of multiliteracies and digital literacies by integrating multimodality, social interaction, and autonomy. It shows that language should be taught with context rather than an isolated skill and that learners should engage in meaning-making in authentic, global, and digitally mediated contexts which would help learners to be immersed in the language.

Busuu: A Community for Language