Language Learning Trends of 2020

In between banana bread baking, Zoom fitness classes, and penpal revival, many individuals decided to enhance their foreign language skills in 2020. The language-learning app Duolingo released its Year in Language report, revealing surprising trends, including a substantial increase in new users during lockdown, as well as the most popular phrase of 2020. Can you guess what it is?

Duolingo sought to assess the general mood of 2020 by asking their learners to vote on the Most 2020 Duolingo Phrase of the year, based on the courses offered on the platform. The phrase that garnered the most votes? “I am eating bread and crying on the floor” from the Norwegian course claimed the top spot. This unexpected choice resonated with many individuals.

Impact of Lockdown on Language Learning

According to the report, approximately 30 million new users adopted language learning in the weeks following lockdown; the global COVID-19 surge was more than double the typical spike observed during the New Year’s period. “During lockdown, learners around the globe sought connections, and consequently, millions began learning a new language,” noted Duolingo’s language expert, Dr. Cindy Blanco.

“Duolingo’s data reflects where and when individuals began learning their community’s own language, kept pace with schoolwork, and explored the languages behind popular quarantine activities, such as binge-watching Netflix and streaming music globally.”

Language Trends in the U.S.

The report examined trends worldwide and identified that the fastest-growing language in the U.S. this year was Turkish, which experienced a 39% increase since 2019. This uptick was influenced by celebrities like Halsey enrolling in Turkish courses and sharing her progress. Spanish remained the most popular language studied in the U.S., followed by English, French, Japanese, and German.

Global Language Rankings

English persists as the most popular language studied worldwide; however, Spanish has now surpassed French to become the second most popular. Cultural phenomena, global events, and social trends significantly impact language trends. The success of Parasite at the Oscars and the rise of K-pop and Korean dramas have propelled Korean to be the second-fastest growing language globally, right behind Hindi, with Japanese following closely in third.

For more insights into language trends, refer to the full report here.