Germany, 05 August 2024- With our world more interconnected than ever, there’s an emphasis on learning English, but this comes at the risk of some languages being forgotten. Today, English, Mandarin, and Spanish are the most spoken languages in the world and many language apps turn a blind eye to lesser spoken languages. EdTech founder Simon Bacher is trying to change this.
Originally from Germany, Simon met his future wife and wanted to learn Thai to better understand her, her family, and her culture. When he couldn’t find a suitable app to connect with his then girlfriend and her family, they developed the first version of Ling. Most users, like Simon back then, are learning a foreign language for love. Others are learning languages to connect to cultures on their world travels and some are hoping to connect with the heritage.
These goals are made possible by offering languages no other language tools are offering such as Gujarati, Amheric and Pashto. Ling’s most popular languages are Thai, Khmer and Tagalog, also offered by very few apps. In addition to vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar, the app also conveys cultural customs so that you can learn beyond the scope of language for a more comprehensive experience.
Ling founder Simon Bacher considers niche languages particularly worth preserving. “We have around 60 percent of users learning a foreign language because of their partner. We’re proud to be helping people break down barriers to build stronger connections. Also, about one in twenty users of Ling is learning the language of their ancestors, in the hopes to connect to their culture which may have been lost when their parents immigrated to another country.”
With a focus on Eastern European and Asian languages, Ling provides access to culture and language that you won’t find elsewhere. “Hearing from our customers about how they were finally able to connect to their family in the Baltics and knowing the language gave them the confidence to travel to places they’ve never been before, is why we started this mission,” says Bacher.
Kanyarat Nuchangpuek from Thailand and Simon Bacher from Germany began developing their language learning app Ling in 2015 and founded their company in 2017 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. They had previously met while studying business informatics in Münster. The EdTech company now has over 50 full-time employees, offers courses in over 60 languages, and directly competes with the global leaders among the major software giants. The Ling app is especially known for Eastern European and Asian languages—most users learn to master the native language of their partners.
Media info:
Author Name: Julia Zhang
Organization: Organization: Start Link How
Website: https://ling-app.com/
Email: connect@ling-app.com
Address: Germany
