We had previously conducted an academic study which found 22 hours of busuu to be equivalent to 1 college semester. Research plays an important role in improving the efficiency of learning a language with busuu. Therefore, we wanted to find out about the behaviour and personal preference of our users. Working with the Open University has allowed us to use this data to further improve the efficiency of our app.
This study has been carried out by Professor Fernando Rosell-Aguilar, Senior Lecturer in Modern Languages at the Open University. Professor Fernando Rosell-Aguilar has been involved in research on learning and teaching for a number of years, particularly in the field of online language learning.
A general outline of the chosen methodology:
- The study ran for three weeks in May 2016.
- It took a sample of 4000 users of the iOS busuu app, male and female.
- The questionnaire included 30 questions to answer anonymously.
- 40% learnt English and the rest were split between the 11 other languages.
What were the results?
An analysis of the data highlighted key findings:
- 93% of respondents stated that busuu was better than expected or had met their expectations.
- Male users use busuu more often, whereas their female counterparts used the app for a longer period of time.
- 83% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that their language knowledge improved greatly.
- Most learners like to spend 16-30 minutes at a time on the app.
- Over 90% of users find the feedback you get on the busuu app useful.
- The 3 most popular exercises: vocabulary, listening and grammar practice.
