Are screen-based apps helpful or harmful for language learning?

Screen-based apps can offer some support in early language learning, particularly when they are interactive and thoughtfully designed. Certain applications provide engaging ways to hear pronunciation, recognise letters and sounds, or build basic vocabulary. However, these tools should be used with intention and clear limits. Language is not absorbed most effectively through screens but through human relationships. A young child’s brain is wired to learn language from real-time, responsive conversation, through the gaze, tone, rhythm, and expressions of a loving adult. These are the elements no screen can fully replicate.
Passive screen time, such as watching videos without interaction or repetition, tends to offer very limited benefit and may reduce the time a child spends engaging in high-quality communication. In contrast, when parents sit with their child and talk about what they are watching or help them interact with an app, the learning becomes far more meaningful. However, even the best digital tool cannot replace a parent who sings a lullaby, reads a story with warmth, or responds to a toddler’s babble with joy. These human exchanges do more than build vocabulary, they build trust, emotional security, and a love for language.
Parents must also model healthy screen habits. When children see adults constantly looking at devices, they may learn to disengage or prioritise screens over people. The most effective language development happens in homes where conversation is encouraged, books are read together, songs are sung, and questions are welcomed. Technology should serve as a support, not a substitute. Used in moderation, screen-based tools can reinforce learning. But the heart of language lies in the living words spoken between people who care for each other.