Duolingo English Test

Large parts of the UK are becoming “cold spots” for language learning in higher education. In some regions, students now have little or no local opportunity to study languages at degree level. So what can we do about it? Professor Emma Cayley (University of Leeds) argues that reversing this trend will require coordinated action across universities, schools, government, and the wider sector. In her contribution to our #KeeptheStreak essay collection, she highlights practical responses already underway, from collaborative provision models to targeted funding, national strategy development, and partnerships designed to keep language pathways open. The challenge is significant, but so is the momentum building around solutions. 🔗 Read more on the Duolingo English Test blog; find a link in the comments!

What's the most stressful test experience YOU'VE ever had? High-stakes testing already puts students under pressure. The testing environment may amplify that pressure more than many institutions realize. We couldn't let #MentalHealthAwareness week go by without revisiting a recent study by Dr. Ruolin Hu (UCL) that examined how test anxiety differs between at-home and in-center testing. Drawing on data from hundreds of test takers across the DET, IELTS, and TOEFL, the research found consistently lower anxiety levels in at-home settings. For institutions thinking about fairness, student wellbeing, and assessment design, these findings raise important questions about how environment shapes performance. 🔗 Read more on the DET blog: https://lnkd.in/e9znAvfn

Dyslexia does not look the same in every language 👏 In this May 22 webinar, Dr. Chihiro Inoue (CRELLA Centre for Research in English Language Learning and Assessment, University of Bedfordshire) shares research showing how learners who had only mild difficulties in their first language can face much greater challenges when learning English, especially with reading and spelling. The session also looks at what this means for test accommodations and how we can better support learners who might otherwise go unnoticed. This webinar is free and open to the public! Save your spot 👉 https://lnkd.in/e4cRzQ8J

How can Japanese universities strengthen their global reach while adapting to new expectations around AI, internationalization, and English proficiency? At the upcoming 2026 Duolingo English Test Leadership Seminar in Tokyo, university leaders will come together to discuss exactly that. The program features Benesse Corporation CEO Daisuke Iwase, alongside speakers from Kansai University, Kanda University of International Studies, Ritsumeikan University, Hitotsubashi University, Tohoku University, and Kyoto University, with conversations focused on internationalization, English education, and the future of assessment. 📍Shibuya, Tokyo 🗓️June 10 Capacity is limited. If your institution would like to be considered, tag Akihito Nagasaka in the comments!

Parliamentarians and university leaders don’t usually compete over language-learning streaks. This year, they did. The Duolingo Language Challenge 2026 brought together more than 1,300 participants across the UK, who spent 50 days learning over 40 languages and earning 12 million XP. Huge congratulations to our winners: 🏆 Alex M. MP (Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard) 🏆 Professor Vanessa Lemm, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Greenwich And shoutout to our runners up: 🌟Dr Caroline Johnson MP (Sleaford and North Hykeham), 🌟Mike Wood MP (Kingswinford and South Staffordshire), 🌟Professor Dame Karen Holford, Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor at Cranfield University 🌟Professor Jenny Marie, Pro Vice Chancellor of Education at the University of Greenwich. Together, these 6 winners shared a charity prize pot of £20,000 🤑 We loved seeing language learning become a shared challenge across Parliament and higher education. Check out the album for more photos of our awards ceremony 📸 💃 https://lnkd.in/gC53V4vT Did you participate in the challenge? Know someone who did? Let us know in the comments! 💬

Recruitment, admissions, and enrollment professionals in the greater Washington, DC area, this one's for you! 👀 Join the Duolingo English Test at The AI Leap: Moving Education Forward, a no-cost professional development event hosted by Georgetown University. Keynote speaker, Patrick Wheeler, Executive Director of the The Center for Digital Strategies at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, will share practical insights on how higher education leaders can translate AI into real strategy and decision-making. 📅 Wednesday, May 27 ⏰ 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM 📍 Georgetown University Washington, DC 🍳 Complimentary breakfast, lunch, and parking provided Register here: https://lnkd.in/eeiiCwA3

Why do some learners struggle with reading and spelling in English, even if they did not have those challenges in their first language? On May 22, 2026, join us for a research webinar with Dr. Chihiro Inoue (CRELLA Centre for Research in English Language Learning and Assessment, University of Bedfordshire), who will explore how dyslexia can show up differently across languages like Japanese, Chinese, and English, and what that means for fairness in language testing. Register here 👉 https://lnkd.in/e4cRzQ8J

Admissions teams are under pressure to move faster, evaluate fairly, and support increasingly global applicant pools. At the upcoming Association of MBAs global conference in Madrid next week, Elie Bechara and Tamsin Thomas will join Hélène Duranton and Ross Porter to explore how digitally enabled assessment is helping institutions expand access while strengthening efficiency and integrity in admissions. With backgrounds spanning universities, policy, and international education, the panel will share practical insight into how assessment is evolving across Europe and the UK. 🔗 Learn more: https://ow.ly/nZXi50Yq59B

What drives someone to learn English today? James Holden, Head of Institutional Engagement (ANZ) at Duolingo, will explore this question in his keynote at the NEAS Australia Conference—a key forum for advancing quality in English language teaching. Drawing on insights from hundreds of millions of learners, he’ll look at how motivations are shifting, and what that means for teaching, learning, and the role of AI in education. We're proud to sponsor this event and to contribute to a community focused on quality, relevance, and impact in ELT! Explore the conference program to learn more: https://lnkd.in/dvEbkHbj

People say the UK has lost interest in languages. The evidence says otherwise. Newly published on the DET blog, "Keep the Streak: Sustaining language learning in the UK" brings together voices from policy and higher education to ask a more useful question: how do we connect existing demand with real opportunity? Featuring contributions from Baroness Jean Coussins, Philip Harding-Esch, Michael Slavinsky, Jessica Weaver, Professor Charles Forsdick, John Worne, Dr Charlotte Ryland Professor Emma Cayley, Anne-Marie Graham, and Danny Lopez MBE, with a forward from Michael Lynas, these essays point to practical ways forward. Find a link to the full collection in the comments 👇