Help & FAQ

Open the app and go to Settings (gear icon). There, under “Language,” you can select your preferred learning language and native language or switch between them at any time.

LinguaFlow offers a free basic plan and a Premium subscription with access to all content. Subscriptions are processed through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and can be canceled there at any time.

Yes—the annual subscription includes a 30-day free trial for new subscribers on both iOS and Android. You can take your time to try out all the Pro features. If you don’t cancel before the 30 days are up, the paid annual subscription will automatically begin afterward. You can cancel at any time directly in the Apple App Store or on Google Play.

The Birkenbihl Method is a brain-based approach to language learning developed by Vera F. Birkenbihl. Instead of memorizing vocabulary, you learn through decoding, active and passive listening, and finally active speaking—similar to how a child learns their native language.

Some lessons can be listened to offline after downloading. You’ll need an internet connection to download new content and sync your progress.

During a lesson, you’ll find a speed control below the player. This lets you adjust the pace to your level—from slowed-down to native-speaker speed.

Yes, the download and some of the content are free to use. For full access to all languages and lessons, there’s an optional premium subscription.

Yes, English is one of the most popular languages to learn on LinguaFlow. You’ll decode English texts word by word, listen to them actively and passively, and develop a natural feel for the language—all without memorizing vocabulary or grammar rules.

LinguaFlow offers over 30 languages, including English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Polish, Russian, Turkish, Greek, Hungarian, Hebrew, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, and many more—all using word-by-word decoding inspired by the Birkenbihl Method.

Duolingo and Babbel use traditional vocabulary training and grammar exercises. LinguaFlow, on the other hand, takes an approach inspired by the Birkenbihl Method: You decode real texts word for word, listening both actively and passively—just as a child learns a language. The result is a deeper understanding rather than memorized phrases.

The Birkenbihl Method was developed by Vera F. Birkenbihl based on neurological findings and has been successfully used by hundreds of thousands of learners since the 1990s. It harnesses the brain’s natural way of learning—the very same way we acquired our native language.

Yes, in LinguaFlow you can paste any text and have it decoded word by word immediately. In addition, there’s a built-in book library with classics and modern texts that you can work through chapter by chapter in the Book Reader.

No, you can start even as a complete beginner. The Birkenbihl Method is ideal for beginners because you don’t have to learn any vocabulary or grammar rules in advance. Even if you have prior knowledge, you’ll benefit from decoding texts specifically tailored to your level.

The method consists of four steps: First, the foreign-language text is decoded word for word into your native language—the app does this for you—so you understand the structure of the language without having to memorize grammar. Then you listen to the text actively (while reading along), followed by passively (in the background during everyday life), and finally begin speaking on your own. LinguaFlow is inspired by these four steps and incorporates them directly into the app.

Yes, even more so than ever. The method is based on how the brain naturally absorbs language—and that principle hasn’t changed. In the past, the most time-consuming step—decoding word by word—had to be done laboriously by hand. In LinguaFlow, the app does this in seconds—making this learning approach more practical today than ever before.

Vera F. Birkenbihl (1946–2011) was one of the best-known trainers and non-fiction authors in the German-speaking world. She coined the term “brain-friendly learning” and published over 40 books. The method named after her—learning languages through decoding rather than rote memorization of vocabulary—remains her most famous legacy to this day and is the inspiration behind LinguaFlow.

The method has been used by many language learners since the 1990s. Many particularly appreciate that they can understand real texts right from the start and make progress without rote memorization. The quickest way to find out how well this learning approach works for you is to try LinguaFlow—which was inspired by it—for free.

It’s best not to start with grammar and vocabulary lists, but with real sentences that you understand right away. That’s exactly how LinguaFlow works, inspired by the Birkenbihl Method: The app decodes a short text for you word by word; you listen to it and absorb both the sound and the meaning at the same time—just as you learned your native language as a child. Just 10 minutes a day is enough to get started.

That depends on your goal: English and Spanish open the most doors worldwide, French and Italian are popular in Europe, and languages like Japanese or Korean appeal to many out of an interest in the culture. More important than the “right” choice is your motivation—learn the language that truly inspires you. In LinguaFlow, you can choose from over 30 languages, and you can switch at any time.

Translation apps help in a pinch, but they’re no substitute for your own understanding of the language: Real conversations, humor, nuances, and spontaneous encounters only work if you understand the language yourself. Plus, learning a language keeps your brain sharp. LinguaFlow takes the tedious work off your hands with its decoding feature—the actual understanding and speaking are still up to you.

LinguaFlow combines an approach inspired by the Birkenbihl Method with three AI systems that work together: The first translates every text word for word (decoding), the second generates native-speaker-quality voice output so you can have any text read aloud to you as if by a native speaker, and the third generates appropriate learning content such as practice texts. In the past, decoding took hours of manual work—today, the app does it in seconds.

The Birkenbihl Method mimics how children learn their native language—completely naturally through listening and comprehension. The app itself is aimed at teens and adults, but it’s well-suited for use with younger children, such as when listening together. Vocabulary tests and graded assessments are intentionally absent.

With LinguaFlow, you can download the app for free and try out Birkenbihl-inspired learning with a selection of content at no cost—with no time limit to give it a try. For full access to all languages and Pro features, there’s an optional Premium subscription that you can cancel at any time in the App Store or on Google Play. This way, you can first see if this learning approach suits you and then decide at your own pace.

Yes. In LinguaFlow, you can read entire books and have them read aloud to you in native-speaker quality. What makes this special is that you stay immersed in the flow of reading because every word you don’t know yet is decoded right below it—so you never have to leave the book to look something up. This way, you read real texts from day one and expand your vocabulary along the way.

Yes. In addition to major languages like English, Spanish, and French, LinguaFlow also offers languages that many traditional Birkenbihl programs don’t even include—for example, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, and Ukrainian. In total, there are over 30 languages to choose from, and you can switch between them at any time.

You’ll find it easiest to learn languages that use the familiar Latin alphabet and are related to German—such as Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, or English. Spanish and Italian are also considered relatively easy to learn. Languages with their own writing systems—such as Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, Greek, or Russian—take more time because you’re also learning a new script. But since LinguaFlow shows you the meaning of every word right away, it makes it easier to get started with even more challenging languages.

You can get started for free—but for full access, there’s a Premium subscription, and there’s a good reason for that: Behind the scenes, three AI systems are at work for every decoding, every native-speaker-quality voice reading, and every generated practice text, and these incur ongoing costs. In return, you get native-quality audio for any text, over 30 languages, and entire books to read—completely ad-free and without your data being sold. Compared to a language course or private tutoring, this is only a fraction of the cost; with the annual subscription, you can learn starting at around €9 per month. This ensures the app remains fairly funded and is constantly being developed.

Yes, and that’s a major difference from many other apps. Instead of just offering pre-written texts about vacations, cooking, or dining out, LinguaFlow decodes any text on any topic—from song lyrics to academic articles. You can have the AI generate texts specifically related to your profession or interests, or even import entire textbooks. For example, if you ask the app what a math term is called in Swedish, the entire technical vocabulary is automatically decoded word for word—including the correct pronunciation for you to listen to. This way, you learn exactly the language you really need.