App Showcase: Airlearn

What it does

Airlearn is a mobile app designed for learning new languages through a gamified, lesson-based approach. It focuses on building a daily habit by tracking streaks and rewarding progress with experience points (XP). The app offers courses in multiple languages, such as Spanish and Korean, and breaks down learning into manageable topics like greetings, family, and basic conversations.

Where it shines

Airlearn stands out by integrating cultural context directly into its lessons. For example, while learning Spanish greetings, the app presents a tip about the 'dos besos' custom in Spain (01:44). This small addition makes the learning process more enriching than simple vocabulary memorization. The app also features a very fluid language switching capability (04:28), allowing users to seamlessly toggle between courses without losing their overall progress, a great feature for aspiring polyglots.

UX highlights

• Gamified Progress: The app uses celebratory animations (02:14, 05:43) with confetti and XP counters after each lesson, reinforcing a sense of accomplishment.
• Clear Goal Setting: During onboarding, users select a 7, 14, or 30-day goal (00:49), which sets clear expectations and provides an initial commitment anchor.
• Interactive Exercises: Lessons are varied, moving from simple translation (01:17) to matching pairs (01:32) and image identification (05:07), keeping the user engaged.
• Cultural Tips: Short, illustrated screens explain cultural norms related to the language being learned, adding depth and practical value.
• Actionable Feedback Prompts: After a lesson, the app cleverly bundles requests for feedback, app reviews, and adding a widget (02:20), capitalizing on the user's positive state.
• Social Leaderboards: A 'Rookie League' (07:14) introduces a competitive element, encouraging users to earn more XP to climb the ranks.

Monetization & growth

Airlearn operates on a freemium model with a PRO subscription. The paywall is encountered when the user tries to access premium features like 'Hearts' (06:08). The app offers a 14-day free trial for its annual plan, framing the price as a small monthly cost (06:11). The paywall screen includes feature highlights and social proof with a user testimonial to build trust and drive conversions. The app also heavily promotes re-engagement through streak tracking and prompts to add a home screen widget (02:22).

Who it’s for

This app is designed for beginner to intermediate language learners who prefer a structured, gamified, and mobile-first experience. Its focus on building daily habits makes it ideal for users who can dedicate small chunks of time each day. The friendly mascot and playful design suggest it's welcoming to a broad audience, from students to casual learners.

Notes & opportunities

The app currently locks subsequent chapters until the user completes the previous ones or takes a test (04:02). While this ensures a linear progression, offering more flexibility for intermediate learners to jump to relevant topics could improve the experience. Additionally, the feedback mechanism (01:47) for reporting issues with a lesson is a bit hidden; making it more prominent could help improve content quality faster.