Babbel teaches you the theory, Targumi gets you speaking. Live classes with real native teachers, in small groups, in 100+ languages.
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Babbel is often considered the "serious" alternative to Duolingo. Its lessons are well-structured, its teaching method is solid, and its approach is more grammar- and conversation-oriented than pure gamification. But Babbel remains a self-study app: you're alone in front of a screen, with no teacher to correct your pronunciation or answer your questions in real time. On top of that, Babbel only offers 14 languages, mainly European. If you're learning Wolof, Swahili, Khmer, or any other non-mainstream language, Babbel isn't even an option. Targumi offers live video classes with certified native teachers, in small groups of 2 to 5 students, in over 100 languages. Here is the full comparison.
Babbel offers well-made lessons, but you're alone with the app. Babbel's speech recognition can check if you pronounce correctly, but it can't explain why it's wrong, adapt the correction to your accent, or encourage you when you improve. At Targumi, a certified native teacher is present at every class: they listen to you, correct you, answer your questions, and adapt the pace to your real progress.
Babbel offers 14 languages, all major European languages (plus Indonesian and Turkish). If you want to learn Wolof, Bambara, Lingala, Swahili, Khmer, Burmese, Tigrinya, or any of the dozens of other languages covered by Targumi, Babbel simply isn't an option. For diaspora languages, Targumi is often the only platform offering live classes.
Language learning is fundamentally social. At Targumi, you learn in small groups of 2 to 5 students: you hear other learners, you practise together, and you motivate each other. Babbel Live exists but groups are larger (6+ students) and only cover 6 languages. Targumi offers this experience in 100+ languages.
Each Targumi group has an active WhatsApp group per language. Between classes, you practise with your classmates, share resources, and ask questions. This continuous immersion, even outside of classes, is what makes the difference between "knowing grammar rules" and "speaking a language".
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