Language learning app Duolingo makes waves in the Chinese market

Intended to help Chinese speakers learn English, Duolingo has launched both simplified and traditional Chinese versions

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A screencap of the traditional Chinese version of Duolingo. Photo: Duolingo

Published: 5:36pm, 9 Aug 2014

Language learning app Duolingo has been gaining popularity in both mainland China and Hong Kong amongst Chinese-speakers looking to improve their English.

An educational app that utilises games and prizes to make the language learning process easier, Duolingo originally launched in mainland China for iOS devices on April 24.

Featuring an interface in simplified Chinese and a wide variety of American English lessons, the app surpassed 1.5 million downloads after its first week on the Apple store.

On July 15, Android and iOS versions of Duolingo were released in traditional Chinese, specifically intended for the Hong Kong market. A simplified Chinese Android version was later revealed on July 25, racking up nearly 350,000 downloads in three days.

Duolingo's Chinese interface. The app uses games and various courses to help streamline the language learning process. Photo: Duolingo

According to Gina Gotthilf, Head of Communications for Duolingo, the app must go through an extensive testing process whenever it is translated into a new language.

“It generally takes a team about three months to create a new [localised version] of Duolingo, and then a few weeks to perfect it,” Gotthilf said. “For the Chinese [localisation], bilingual volunteers created the course…and then customised and perfected it based on their knowledge of cultural and linguistic variations.