Smartphone applications for learning languages have become extremely popular. They typically offer short daily lessons, points for correct answers, and reminders that encourage users to keep a "streak" of consecutive days of study. These features are based on the idea that regular, small amounts of practice are more effective than occasional long sessions. Research on such apps suggests a mixed picture. A study of adult learners, described in a recent education journal, found that users who studied for at least fifteen minutes a day for three months improved their reading and vocabulary scores significantly. Their speaking ability, however, showed little change, probably because the apps provided few chances to hold real conversations. The researchers also found that many users stopped after a few weeks. Those who continued tended to have a specific goal, such as preparing for a trip or an exam. The authors concluded that apps can be a useful tool, but that learners who want to communicate fluently should combine them with other activities, such as conversation classes or language exchanges with native speakers.

Users who had a specific goal tended to continue using the apps.