According to the latest data released by the Ministry of Education in September 2024, 85 countries worldwide have incorporated Chinese into their national education systems, with over 200 million international learners and users of Chinese. The global influence of the Chinese language continues to grow. Recently, as a large number of American users have flocked to Chinese social media platforms, "foreigners learning Chinese" has once again become a hot topic.
Data from the US-based online language learning platform Duolingo shows that from December 1 last year to January 13 this year, the number of American Chinese learners on the platform surged by 216%, reaching 11.3 million. Since 2020, Chinese has ranked among the top ten most popular languages to learn globally, with over 12.9 million users studying Chinese on the platform in 2023. Online learning platforms have become a key avenue for global users to learn foreign languages.
China has emerged as one of Duolingo’s fastest-growing international markets. Duolingo entered the Chinese market in 2019, establishing its first international office in Beijing and continuously developing localized products. In 2022, to meet the learning needs of Chinese users, Duolingo launched its first dialect course—Mandarin to Cantonese—which quickly gained popularity among users.
Additionally, in November last year, Duolingo introduced math and music courses in China for the first time. These courses follow Duolingo’s gamified design approach, focusing on solving real-life problems, such as calculating time or money in the math course. Duolingo’s Chief Engineering Officer, Natalie Glance, stated, “We understand that math education is highly valued in China. We hope our courses help more people overcome their fear of math and enjoy the learning process.”
Chief Engineering Officer at Duolingo, Natalie Glance
Duolingo’s continued investment in AI technology has also fueled its rapid growth. The platform’s latest AI feature, “Video Call,” allows learners to engage in interactive conversations with a virtual character (Duolingo’s mascot, Duo) to practice language skills in real-world scenarios. This feature has already been rolled out in select overseas markets.
Natalie Glance noted, “Using AI to enhance functionality helps us better realize our product’s vision and mission—to enable more people to learn languages, math, and music effectively. The addition of AI has also been well-received by the market, with many users loving our products and willingly becoming subscribers.” According to Duolingo’s Q3 2024 financial report, the platform has over 110 million monthly active users globally, up 36% year-over-year, and 37.2 million daily active users, up 54%. The total number of paid subscribers globally reached 8.6 million by the end of the quarter, a 47% increase from the previous year.
The rapid development of innovative digital technologies like 5G, AI, and virtual reality has accelerated the growth of online learning. In China, cutting-edge online education initiatives have emerged, such as NetEase Youdao’s virtual oral language tutor, Hi Echo, and ByteDance’s AI-powered English tutor based on its Doubao model. As technology continues to evolve, platforms like Duolingo will further promote educational equity, lower learning barriers, and provide global users with more accessible and high-quality educational opportunities.
A 2023 report by market research firm HolonIQ valued the Chinese learning market at $7.4 billion, with projections to double by 2027. In the future, the global enthusiasm for learning Chinese is expected to grow further, serving as an important bridge for connecting cultures worldwide.
