By Michael Lynas 

Director, UK and Europe Duolingo. 

Too often, the story we tell ourselves about languages in the UK is a negative one: that we are not very good at them; that young people are losing interest; that, in a world where English is widely spoken, they matter less than they once did. But the evidence points in a different direction.

At Duolingo, we see what people actually do. Millions of people across the UK are choosing to learn languages in their own time, often consistently and over long periods. Young people, especially, are highly engaged. They are not turning away from languages; if anything, they are finding new ways into them through culture, technology, and their own curiosity about the world.

The opportunity now is to connect that enthusiasm to deeper study and real-world opportunity. The routes that should carry people from early interest into more sustained learning are not always clear, or not always available.

The Duolingo 2026 Essay Collection

In this essay collection, we have drawn on leaders from across the UK who are not only thinking about these challenges, but working on them: testing new approaches, building partnerships and finding practical ways to keep language learning alive and growing in difficult conditions.

Across these essays, we see examples of collaboration making provision viable where it might otherwise be lost. We see approaches that reconnect language learning with culture, creativity and real-world experience, making it more relevant and engaging. And we see consistent evidence that when learners are given the opportunity and the right support they respond.

Technology has opened the door to language learning for more people than ever before; this collection considers what should lie beyond that door. Not by restating familiar arguments about decline, but by bringing together practical ideas that, if implemented, can spark a resurgence.

If there is one message that runs through this collection, it is that the UK already has both the appetite for language learning and proven approaches that deliver results. The task now is for all of us - policymakers, educators and institutions - to match that ambition with equal intent, building on the practices that are already making a difference.

CIOL's Contribution 

CIOL Honorary President Baroness Jean Coussins and Philip Harding-Esch challenge the idea that the UK struggles with languages; data shows people are already motivated and engaged. They argue the real issue is policy, and call for a joined-up national strategy that matches public enthusiasm with meaningful action. Read their essay here. 

CIOL CEO John Worne highlights a hidden strength in the UK: millions of people already use multiple languages in everyday life. He calls for better recognition and accreditation of spoken language skills, showing how unlocking this “communicative competence” could power social mobility, economic growth, and a more connected society. Read his essay here.

Read the full 2026 Essay Collection on the Duolingo site here