The hardest part of learning a language is motivation, so how could we use a fandom to help Gen Z and millennials start and continue learning with Duolingo?

Statistics show that people learn languages much faster and more efficiently through full immersion, through being made to respond to situations in the foreign language by living in it, rather than trying to absorb it from a textbook and memorize it. There’s a reason why foreign language students going abroad usually learn in a month’s time the same they would’ve taken a year to learn in a regular classroom environment.

Being immersed and practicing everyday activities in a foreign language has been shown to increase fluency and vocabulary faster. And Nintendo’s popular game, Animal Crossing, already rewards immersion and daily tasks. So let’s marry the two and offer players the opportunity to learn, in their game and at their own enjoyable pace, new languages with Duolingo.

Players will be able to download a ‘Duo Helper’ app on their Animal Crossing in-game phones. The app can be used to change the game language, offer real-time translations and allow players to adjust their difficulty level, so they can have a gradual increase in vocabulary as they progress, at their own speed. When reaching the advanced level, a special Duo island is unlocked, allowing learners of the same language to play online with each other, driving further proficiency through real social interactions.

To encourage usage of the Duolingo app itself, players can link their Duolingo account to their Nintendo online account. So that every achievement badge earned on the classic Duolingo app can be exchanged for themed Animal Crossing in-game rewards.