The Default Library
The Default Library · Languages

Languages

Learn a language the way the research says works: a little every day, recalling instead of rereading, the most useful words first, and plenty of listening. Each language has a few short lessons with drills inside, and three references to keep open while you learn. Free, offline in the app, progress saved on your device.

Start here

2 lessons

How memory and practice build a language, for any language you choose.

General · 1How Memory Builds a Language: Retrieval, Spacing & the Words That MatterRemembering is the engine of a language, and it follows rules: recalling beats rereading, spaced recalls beat crammed ones, and a few thousand common words do most of the work. Here is the evidence, with two models you can play with.7 min · interactiveGeneral · 2How a Language Grows: Input, Practice, Feedback & TimeMemory is half of it. The other half is language you can mostly understand, some of your own speaking and writing, correction, and enough hours. Here is what the research supports, how long it takes, and a weekly routine you can build in a minute.9 min · interactive

Choose a language

5 open · 6 coming
For English speakers

Spanish español

4 lessons · 3 references
For English speakers

French français

4 lessons · 3 references
For English speakers

Italian italiano

4 lessons · 3 references
For English speakers

German Deutsch

4 lessons · 3 references
For English speakers

Portuguese português

4 lessons · 3 references
Coming

Russian русский

Being written
Coming

Arabic العربية

Being written
Coming

Hebrew עברית

Being written
Coming

Japanese 日本語

Being written
Coming

Korean 한국어

Being written
Coming

Mandarin 中文

Being written

For Spanish speakers, English, Portuguese, French, Italian and German are being written: Idiomas.