Preliminary results from a survey of Congolese refugees in Uganda before and after using Latudio for a period of time shows that Latudio helped learners build confidence in their language skills. One learner reported a habit of using the app twice a day because he noticed an improvement in his pronunciation and a boost in his confidence since first starting. Another, that he’s no longer shy to speak up in group settings like he was before using Latudio. Yet another, that the app has helped him so much in his English-learning journey, that he feels inspired to become a language teacher to other refugees and hopes to use the application with his future students.
Additionally, through interviews, app users were asked to rate the degree of confidence they felt in navigating interactions in a series of specific scenarios, for instance shopping for groceries or communicating with landlords. Using a scale from not confident at all to extremely confident, users were asked first to rate how confident they felt speaking in these situations, and then in understanding the other speakers. Their ratings from before using Latudio were compared to
those gathered after using the app for a number of weeks, and the preliminary data we have gathered shows ratings between one to three points higher for every scenario.
Of course, navigating a new language in a new home is not just about mastering specific scenarios – there is also a psychological and socio-emotional component at play. In interviews we’ve conducted, refugees have reported feelings of language confidence to overcome being judged, looked down upon, and misunderstood due to their limited proficiency in the language of their new country.
Harnessing Research Insights
So how could an app help you acquire a language in an “unconventional” way compared to just grammar and vocabulary?
The Latudio design answers the call with two things in mind: comprehensible input and smart practice strategies. Krashen (2011) said when input is comprehensible to us – in other words, when we listen to or read something that we can understand – we acquire it, especially if the content is interesting to us.
Latudio is designed around this principle. It immerses learners in usable language, emphasizing tap-and-translate features that make content understandable in their mother language as they listen or read. Initially, you’ll utilize tap-and-translate to grasp phrases. As you progress, you’ll gradually comprehend more parts of the phrases, guided by the app through more advanced content. According to Krashen (2011), comprehensible input is most effective when it’s just above your current level, allowing for continuous advancement while acquiring new knowledge. You also need a great deal of exposure to comprehensible input in order for the grammar to “take care of itself,” as he puts it.
Smart practice strategies can help you manage all this new information. Latudio provides convenient and flexible listening practice at your fingertips – engage at your own pace, as much as you want. Prepare for listening by studying words beforehand. Hear a diversity of native voices, just like those you’d encounter on the street, but with the ability to pause, repeat, and review what they’ve said. With consistent use, investing just an hour a day for 2-3 months, learners see remarkable improvements in comprehension, which in turn develops speaking capacity.
Empowering Refugees Through Language
Language acquisition is a transformative power for new arrivals in a foreign place. What initially feels like an impenetrable challenge becomes their strength. As a result of Latudio, communication barriers melt away, newcomers feel confident navigating their new homes, and refugees have support in their journeys toward self-sufficiency. This is the Kusala Institute mission – where language learning has social impact.
As the number of refugees increases around the world, the need for accessible language support has never been greater. Rooted in research-based language acquisition principles, Latudio offers refugees a powerful tool for navigating the unfamiliar waters of a new language.
Latudio is an essential companion on the journey towards language independence. And much like the adage of teaching a man to fish, there’s no greater gift than empowering individuals to become masters of their own language proficiency.
