Language learning today comes in many forms, with apps and teacher-led approaches offering distinct advantages. While apps can give affordable and convenient opportunities for practice, they fall short in simulating real-world interaction and developing face-to-face fluency. Teachers are invaluable in creating an environment that nurtures interpersonal skills and cross-cultural competency with social engagement.
A combination of solutions that makes the best of both worlds available to learners ensures that professionals learn the language they need while getting realistic and significant practice. The guidance of a teacher boosts engagement, leading to superior learning outcomes and a stronger return on investment. These improved outcomes, in turn, feed back into higher achievement and greater commitment to work, creating a continuous cycle of better performance.
The right way to learn English online
There are many options for learning English online, from popular apps to a variety of online teaching styles. But how do you know which is the best choice? Each method offers value, but to get the best results, it is important to understand which should be treated as a primary learning tool and which can be used as a supplement. This report will help you make an informed decision on what works best for you or your company.
Different E-Learning Strategies
Before diving into the strengths and limitations of each online English learning tool, let us first examine the main types of e-learning approaches available today:
- Synchronous online courses: real-time video conferencing with a teacher. Students engage directly, ask questions and participate in activities like role-playing and discussions.
- Asynchronous online courses: students access course content, exercises, and activities on-demand via an online platform. Interaction with teachers is typically limited to discussion forums, and students progress at their own pace.
- Blended approach: a combination of live sessions with independent study materials, offering a flexible learning experience. Students can participate in live sessiones and complete independent work at their own pace.
English learning apps generally follow the non-synchronized model, allowing learners to study anytime, anywhere, but without live human interaction. There is no instructor to guide or hold students accountable for their progress.
In contrast, online English schools typically offer synchronized courses, providing a social experience with interactive lessons and real-time teacher support, as well as additional resources for self-study outside the classroom. While the convenience of studying whenever you want with an app is undeniable, there are compelling reasons why working with an actual human teacher is more effective. Here is why.
Are apps all you need?
Apps have become hugely popular—millions of people use them, and they offer great convenience. Learners can study whenever they choose and at their own pace, while immediate, machine-generated feedback helps reinforce learning. Some apps even introduce some interaction, like multiplayer games and AI-generated conversation, which allow learners to engage creatively with English. However, this automated feedback and tools lack the personalized touch and nuanced understanding that human expertise provides in live sessions.
So can an app really replace a teacher? While research shows that apps are fun and helpful, especially for vocabulary and language development, most studies stop short of exploring their long-term effectiveness. They often simply state that apps have “some value," but this is not the same as proving they are the right tool for achieving real, lasting results.
Language learning is complex. Even a simple word can carry different meanings, nuances, and pronunciations. As learners advance, communication only becomes more difficult. Most studies on language apps focus on learners' opinions or the potential for expanding vocabulary and applying correct grammar through their use. So these investigations face two issues: they either prioritize gathering subjective feedback from users—non-experts who are not qualified to assess their own progress—or they focus solely on quantitative data. As a result, there is little research exploring how well apps actually prepare learners for real-world communication and practical language use.
Are the words we acquire from an app enough to navigate a conversation in a foreign country? Can we intuitively grasp all the grammar we need, or do we require guidance from a teacher? If you have never interacted with a real person in your target language, are you ready to deliver a presentation in another language at work? For professionals, this could mean the difference between winning or losing an important account, landing a job, or meeting key milestones or deadlines.
Let us dig deeper and explore how we learn language—and why.
Understanding Language Learning
The differences between learning on your own via an app or with an online teacher often go unaddressed. In this section, we will examine some of the key aspects of the language learning experience. Rather than focusing on ease of use or time efficiency, we will turn our attention to the impact of these methods.
Learning a language is not just about mastering theory; there is a practical, emotional, and interactive component that plays a critical role. Understanding these elements is essential for getting results, requiring a more immersive and dynamic approach.
Vocabulary
Many language learning apps offer an interactive experience for building vocabulary through activities like flashcards, audio recordings, and videos. However, vocabulary in apps is often either too advanced or too basic, causing frustration. They fail to provide a realistic understanding of word usage in context, and comprehension checks feel repetitive or even pointless. As a result, learners may become skilled at using the app but struggle to apply vocabulary in real-life situations.
For instance, an app could teach 'intelligent' and 'clever' without clarifying the nuances between them, leading a learner to believe they are interchangeable. This could result in awkward usage, such as calling a boss 'clever,' which might suggest they are 'sneaky' rather than 'intellectually capable.’
In contrast, teachers provide accurate word definitions along with context and nuances. They can adapt vocabulary to the learner’s level and needs. These language refinements hold even greater value in business settings. The more delicate a real-life situation, the greater the need to choose the right words, considering the formality, hierarchy, and relationships involved.
Grammar
Language learning apps often teach grammar through examples that help learners understand sentence structures and absorb rules intuitively. Exercises like multiple-choice questions or fill-in-the-blank activities can be engaging, but they lack the depth needed for full comprehension. In contrast, teachers can explore various strategies to engage learners and provide interactive feedback.
Learners often get stuck because apps fail to provide sufficient context and detailed explanations. They overemphasize translation, disregard exceptions, and use sentences that are rarely encountered in real life. For instance, a learner might master verb conjugation in isolated sentences but be unable to tell a story using two different past tenses.
This is where a teacher's expertise is crucial. They take the time to get to know their students, identifying how students' strengths and weaknesses contribute to their struggles. Teachers ask the right questions and offer examples or explanations that resonate. The material becomes memorable because it incorporates both practical and emotional components of language learning.
Tests
For learners seeking job promotions, study abroad opportunities, or to live abroad, a high proficiency test score is often required. Common tests like TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS, GCAS, GBC, and Cambridge Exams are used by companies, academic programs, and countries as entry standards.
Since some tests feature multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blank questions, test-oriented apps help students familiarize themselves with their formats. However, these apps fall short in teaching essential strategies for success, such as time management, scanning, skimming, keyword listening, or identifying trick questions.
Moreover, many tests are not straightforward, assessing complex communication skills that apps cannot prepare learners for. Teachers play a key role in helping students develop critical thinking, social interaction, and spontaneous responses. They also identify and address blind spots learners may overlook.
After all, proficiency tests are rarely taken for their own sake. They serve broader purposes, such as preparing professionals to conduct meetings across offices. These tasks require more than theoretical knowledge; they demand quick thinking, productive collaboration, and the ability to make strong impressions—skills that are difficult to develop without human feedback and interaction.
Your investment: two different scenarios
If we focus solely on the cost, using apps is the more affordable option. However, for serious learners—whether individuals or companies—the stakes are higher. The investment goes beyond just money; it also involves time, attention, and energy. Achieving tangible results in real-world situations requires productive use of that investment. To explore this, let us compare two scenarios.
First scenario: Learning app
On their way to work, a learner opens an app on their phone and spends fifteen minutes practicing vocabulary and grammar during their commute. They quickly review previously learned material, then move on to new words and a grammar point, working through examples and exercises. Progress is tracked via a scoring system. On the way back home, they spend another fifteen minutes on a quick “interactive” conversation with an AI character who provides them with some scripted and one-size-fits-all answers.
Second scenario: Online teacher
In this scenario, the learner hires an online language school that offers 25-minute lessons, which can be scheduled at their convenience. They book a class either before leaving for work or shortly after returning home. In the session, they review key learning points from the previous lesson, responding to questions in the target language. Then, they discuss a short article and practice new vocabulary and key sentences by role-playing a project kick-off meeting. The teacher provides immediate feedback and corrections throughout the session.
Both cases involve similar study time, yet the results differ significantly.
Communication skills
While learners can practice vocabulary, grammar, and other aspects of language on an app, they miss out on the most important element to achieve fluency: real-time human conversation. Apps develop some skills but lack opportunities for spontaneous dialogue.
Essentially, the app can serve as a helpful supplement to language learning and independent study, but it is not enough to fully develop communication skills. On the other hand, a teacher optimizes class time by training the student for relevant conversations.
Some apps offer interactive features. The most common ones are: interaction via written or recorded messages to talk with native speakers, and conversation with an AI-generated character. They are both limited and controversial.
In the first case, these are not real-time exchanges - learners have the luxury of time to review their responses and absorb feedback gradually. This setup does not simulate real-life conversations, and the people offering feedback are not professionals.
As for the second case, AI systems lack the natural qualities of human communication. They do not have authentic accents, personalities, natural speech patterns or idiosyncrasies - key elements of a real conversation. When practising with AI-generated characters, learners are likely to detect unnatural speech patterns and to find voices unsettling. Additionally, AI's overuse of pre-programmed responses can make the conversation feel scripted, lacking spontaneity and being disconnected from reality. So, for learners, this may be a distorted experience that may end up hindering their development of real communication skills.
In contrast, every online class with a teacher compels learners to react, improvise, and engage in real-time dialogue. This environment is controlled, yet dynamic, with tasks specifically designed to refine language use for practical communication. Teachers are present to address any issues or questions instantly, ensuring that learners receive immediate, accurate guidance.
On top of that, as a student works with one or more teachers over time, valuable relationships develop, providing time and space for rapport. This is a critical—if not the most important—factor for learners to build confidence in their communication skills. In a safe learning environment, they become ready to engage in conversations beyond an otherwise artificial world. No one transitions seamlessly from a language app to a substantial conversation in real life.
Focus
Studying on the go—whether on the bus or while waiting at a doctor’s office—leads to diminished focus. Learners may be distracted by daily concerns, worried about missing their stop, or preoccupied with their surroundings. As a result, completing a unit or task may take longer, and productivity can suffer. Additionally, distractions like pop-up notifications can interrupt learning, and students may feel self-conscious about practicing speaking or listening in public spaces.
Learning with a teacher, however, provides a more focused environment. With a dedicated time slot and the presence of another person, learners are more likely to concentrate fully on the lesson. Over time, the teacher-student relationship fosters a sense of comfort and trust, making it easier for learners to engage and participate in conversation. This creates a more productive learning atmosphere.
Progress check
Apps assess progress with points or scores, but this automated system lacks deep feedback and can lead to repeated mistakes. Companies using apps to train employees face the same issue, as they can track completion rates but cannot easily gauge whether the learner is truly prepared to perform their role in English.
In contrast, a teacher provides consistent, personalized feedback. Teachers identify areas for improvement and address specific weaknesses, considering both language skills and the emotional intelligence needed to function effectively in real-life scenarios. Since communication quality is subjective, human evaluation holds greater value. It goes beyond grammar correction to include soft skills—an aspect that only humans can assess.
Commitment
While apps may initially seem engaging, learners often experience a drop in motivation over time as activities become repetitive. The novelty wears off, and the lack of human interaction makes it harder to stay motivated in the long run.
On the other hand, when a student books a class with a teacher, there is a higher level of commitment. The scheduled lesson provides accountability, and over time, the teacher-student relationship deepens, which keeps motivation high. This human connection is key to sustaining long-term engagement.
For employees, this translates into increased confidence in their communication skills and greater output in the target language. For companies, it leads to higher employee satisfaction, improved retention rates, and, of course, a better return on investment for the business—without losing momentum.
Personalized experience
Apps often offer highly structured content, which is impressive in its organization. However, the customization is minimal. Learners are placed into a one-size-fits-all system based on their self-assigned level or a few general preferences (e.g., work, school, travel).
Complex learning, however, requires a tailored approach. Serious learners need teachers who can map out personalized goals based on their unique priorities and interests. They need a language learning and communication consultant: a teacher who can design lessons that are flexible and adaptive, offering a level of customization that an app simply cannot match. Moreover, teachers provide something of great value: content that students did not know they needed to learn.
Combining Apps and Teachers in Language Learning
Starting to learn a language on your own is fine. In fact, apps can be a good starting point. However, as learners progress, the need for interaction and support becomes inevitable. According to the ‘learning ladder’ theory, certain steps in the learning process cannot be climbed alone. At these critical points, teacher guidance is essential to overcome challenges.
This is why combining different learning strategies is the best approach. In fact, studies have found that while learners appreciate the convenience of mobile apps, they still prefer to have a teacher to guide them through more complex learning stages.
Learners achieve better results when given sufficient time and support from a teacher. According to the mastery learning approach, they benefit more when they fully comprehend a concept before they move on to the next one, rather than following a fixed schedule. This is only possible with guidance from someone who understands their goals and monitors their progress. Only then can they advance at their own pace, gaining confidence through a personalized learning experience. This is also why one-on-one tutoring has been shown to further enhance student performance.
This combination of human-led lessons and apps is equally important in organisational settings. Many companies require their employees to learn English in order to collaborate with international teams and clients. In these environments, training courses—either internal or outsourced—are common. Success is typically measured by factors like customer satisfaction, repeat business, and attendance. Despite the rise of mobile learning, virtual classrooms and blended learning remain the preferred methods for business training. A lack of an instructor is often a deal-breaker for learners, regardless of how attractive the app may be.
Human Interaction: The Backbone of Language Proficiency
Apps cannot carry learners all the way to professional competence. Research shows that apps help learners build vocabulary, reinforce grammar, and improve translation skills. However, their impact can be fragmented, as learners typically use them sporadically without a structured plan.
More importantly, language transcends vocabulary, grammar, or translation. These are tools that enable us to speak, but they are only part of the process. Without the ability to combine and apply them successfully, they are meaningless. There is still a widespread misconception about what it truly means to learn a language. This is why so many people spend years studying English without being able to hold natural conversations. They believe learning a language is about breaking it down into a code when, in reality, language is a human skill that we use to get things done through efficient communication.
Without the social aspect, there is no communication, which is why speaking with a real person is the most natural approach. When learners feel comfortable with their teachers, they enjoy the conversation, which in turn improves their cross-cultural interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence. Only then can they build successful work relationships and collaborate competently. If they avoid conversation with a real person because they feel uneasy, how will they handle real-world interactions with other people— which is the ultimate goal?
This is why language proficiency cannot be achieved without planned coaching sessions with a trained language learning expert. These sessions offer learners a meaningful experience that mirrors real-world situations. Life’s unpredictability means communication varies greatly from one situation to another, and lessons with a teacher are the closest experience to language immersion, as they stir learners to navigate diverse environments.
Given the clear need for human interaction in language learning, the question becomes: How can a learner grow into a confident speaker, able to carry out professional tasks successfully in the target language?
Inkstone has the answer to this question. We do not just address the need for expert guidance: we redefine it. Our approach ensures learners not only gain language proficiency but also develop the critical skills necessary to thrive in professional and cross-cultural contexts. We deliver human training for professionals who need to learn how to interact with other humans in professional settings. At Inkstone, learners master communication in a way that has an immediate, lasting impact on their performance and collaboration. This, in turn, leverages organizational capacity in measurable ways, proving the investment worthy: expert communicators make organizations great. At Inkstone, we know how to make that happen.
References
Amorim, G. B., Leao, R. G., & Finardi, R. K. (2016). Mobile assisted language learning: Affordances and limitations of Duolingo. Education and Linguistics Research, 2
Bloom, B. S. (1984). The 2 sigma problem: The search for methods of group instruction as effective as one-to-one tutoring. Educational Researcher, 13(6), 4–16
Deng, Q., & Trainin, G. (2015). Learning vocabulary with apps: From theory to practice. The Nebraska Educator: A Student-Led Journal, 29 https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nebeducator/29
Deris, F. D., & Shukor, N. S. A. (2019). Vocabulary learning through mobile apps: A phenomenological inquiry of student acceptance and desired app features. International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies, 13(7), 129–140
Klopfer, E., & Squire, K. (2008). Environmental detectives: The development of an augmented reality platform for environmental simulations. Educational Technology Research and Development, 56(2), 203–228
Kohnke, L., & Ting, A. (2021). ESL students’ perceptions of mobile applications for discipline-specific vocabulary acquisition for academic purposes. Knowledge Management & E-Learning: An International Journal, 13, 102–117.
Shalini, R., & Praveen Sam, D. (2021). Limitations and advantages in implementing MALL in the tertiary ESL classrooms: A review. International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering (IJRTE), 9(5). ISSN: 2277-3878
State of the Training Industry Benchmark Report. (2020). https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/302197/Training%20Industry%20Benchmark%2…
Stockwell, G. (2010). Using mobile phones for vocabulary activities: Examining the effect of platform. Language Learning & Technology, 14(2), 95–110. http://dx.doi.org/10.125/44216
Rosell-Aguilar, F. (2017). State of the app: A taxonomy and framework for evaluating language learning mobile applications. CALICO Journal, 34(2), 243–258. https://www.jstor.org/stable/90014690
Training Industry Report. (2020). In Training Magazine Network. https://cdn.coverstand.com/20617/678873/ae17abf8c84bb2d1d13340e3278dfb1…