What Does Duolingo Going Public Mean for Languages in India?

The power of smartphones and what they can do is proven again and again. This time, it comes from the news that Duolingo has filed its S-1, which means it plans to soon trade publicly on the Nasdaq. Using the DUOL shorthand, the language learning software joins many other publicly traded companies that have gained success through the proliferation of mobile devices and what they can do. But what does Duolingo’s success here mean for the future of smartphones and businesses that want to interact with customers on them?

Duolingo to Go Public

Duolingo is one of the most popular language-learning software providers with courses offered in almost 50 languages. From December 2020 to March 2021, the app achieved an average of 40 million users per month from all around the world. Approximately 1 in 20 of these users paid for the ad-free subscription, which means that two million people are paid subscribers. It remains the most downloaded app for the education category across most major smartphone app stores. So, it’s clear that the app is doing something right.

One of the main reasons for Duolingo’s success is that it used mobile devices to alter how we view something that has existed since almost the start of time: language learning. Many people cite that they want to learn a new language. Duolingo has taken this desire and through digital technology made it easier to do. The progress reports and game aspect of engaging with the app add elements of fun to language learning. Through using digital technology, people are able to commit to learning a language and engage at their own pace and in their own time. These are barriers to typical language learning which Duolingo has helped to overcome.


Languages in India

Some have argued that a lot of India focuses on English as a primary language, which means Indian citizens who speak and read only Hindi, Bengali, or Marathi, for instance, may miss out on key information. So, it’s clear that an app like Duolingo could have practical implications, as well as being used by people who just want to learn a new language to pass the time. Indeed, there are 19,500 languages spoken in India, 121 of them with more than 10,000 speakers. Reports indicate that at least 52% of India’s youth are bilingual – so there is clearly an appetite, as well as a need, to learn another language in India.

According to their own reports, Duolingo experienced growth in India in 2020. The Hindi options on the app were used more frequently, with many of these learners being based in India themselves. Duolingo have suggested that this may actually be because of user experience issues and not because a large number of people in India are learning Hindi – one of the official languages. Still, the growth in India of the use of Duolingo is fortuitous for language learning. But what else can we see growing based on its availability as an app in an industry it might not have existed in before?

Apps Changing Industries

Allowing people to engage on smartphones, especially with an app, has already helped reshape many long-term existing industries. For instance, originating in Australia, the Freelancer app allows employers to connect with skilled labour. Those with the right skills could be hired for projects. This enabled people to build portfolios and find work away from the usual channels, opening up opportunities for everyone. Telemedicine apps have popped up in the US to change how we see healthcare.

Moreover, the online casino industry has been influenced by this as Betway has an app where numerous online slot titles can be played, which opens up the potential customer base while also providing an experience that players in 2021 would be already expecting. Elsewhere, the proliferation of banking apps, such as Monzo means that people can transfer money immediately without having to log onto a desktop or go into the bank itself. This has made occasions with friends where bills may need to be split a lot easier and smoothed out any issues that could arise from this.

Furthermore, Grubhub in the United States pioneered food delivery from restaurants and not just takeaway venues as far back as 2014 when it went public. Similarly, Deliveroo in London did the same. Restaurants were able to not just cater to visitors but those who wanted to taste their food from online too. Facebook is even going one step further and launching smartwatches with heart monitors, using the device after the smartphone to revolutionise how things are done.

Overall, we can see that the accessibility of having an app or way of engaging has definitely helped Duolingo make its mark in its industry. It’s interesting to see something so established changed through such a simple concept as the Duolingo app. This positive story will no doubt influence other industries to change through the power of smartphones. We have already seen this in many sectors but should expect to see it be a lot more widespread in the future. Of course, there are detractors who believe we are too attached to phones. But there is no doubt that smartphones and apps will continue to change how we interact with the world.


Himshikha Shukla