Welsh course to be 'paused' on language app Duolingo

Language learning app Duolingo is to "pause" its Welsh course and no longer update it from the end of the month.

This comes despite the company saying in 2020 the language was the fastest growing in the UK.

It said it would be channelling its resources into courses that were more popular among users.

A petition, launched by users who fear the course will stagnate, is calling on First Minister Mark Drakeford to urge Duolingo to reconsider.

"We hope that our petition would move you to persuade Duolingo to continue to have a vibrant Welsh curriculum that would allow us to achieve a functional fluency," the petition's creator wrote.

Duolingo said it would pause updates when the National Centre for Learning Welsh stops creating material in November.

It said it planned to focus on languages in higher demand including Spanish, French, and German.

A spokesman said: "Welsh, already one of our most comprehensive courses, will remain free for all, and continue to be the go-to for people wanting to begin learning Welsh and those seeking to improve their skills."

Welsh learner Kim Falk, from Ohio in the United States, said she was "mad as heck" at the decision.

"I use Duolingo to learn Welsh here where there are limited resources," she said.

"Learning Welsh is not just important in the UK. It is a rare language and important for those who want to foster the Welsh culture.

Rachel Whittaker McClary, who is originally from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, but now lives in Washington State in the United States said Duolingo was part of her daily routine.

"I've been using Duolingo every day for the last five years and I've introduced Welsh to my kids through a family membership," she said.

"I won't be renewing and I'm sad because not all platforms are easily accessible to those of us who live abroad."

In 2020 Welsh was the ninth most popular language among Duolingo's UK users.

A 2021 report by the company said there were 1.62 million people learning Welsh on the app, with more 400,000 doing so actively.

There are currently 658,000 people learning Welsh on Duolingo, with over two million now having used the course since it was launched.

Michaela Jane O'Connor, who is English and moved to Wales six years ago, said Duolingo had been invaluable alongside a Saturday morning course she was taking as she was dyslexic.

"I use it every day on my breaks at work and in the evenings. If it's not updated or developed I won't be learning the correct things going forward," she said.

The National Centre for Learning Welsh, which had been working in partnership with Duolingo, said it would still point learners to Duolingo as a "valuable" way to practise.

"Should Duolingo change its policy the centre would be happy to help with the work of developing the Welsh course," a spokesman said.

Education and Welsh Language minister, Jeremy Miles, said: "In light of this news, I will be writing to Duolingo to ask them to consider how, together with the National Centre for Learning Welsh, we might support the continued development of the Welsh course."

Additional reporting by Dan Moffat