Indonesia is home to more than 700 regional languages, but many are at risk of decline as younger generations prioritize Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) or English. Languages like Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese still have large speaker bases but are less commonly taught in formal education.

Duolingo, with its fun and gamified approach, has an opportunity to support regional language preservation while reaching new learners who want to connect with their cultural heritage.

• Regional languages are often oral-first and culturally rich.

• Learners are motivated by heritage, family, and identity, not just global communication.

• Communities are proud of their local languages but lack structured, modern learning tools.

Support cultural preservation while engaging passionate user communities, and position Duolingo as a global leader in language diversity.

• Young Indonesians who speak a little of their regional language at home but want structured learning.

• Students and diaspora who want to reconnect with heritage.

• Language enthusiasts interested in exploring Southeast Asian cultures.

How might we design Duolingo’s experience to make learning Indonesian regional languages engaging, accessible, and culturally meaningful, even with limited resources?

Design a regional language practice feature within Duolingo that:

• Introduces Indonesian regional languages (e.g., Javanese, Sundanese).

• Explains why it matters (cultural identity, preservation).

• Offers short, gamified lessons with oral/voice-first exercises (since many are orally passed down).

• Motivates learners with Duolingo-style streaks, achievements, and cultural context.

• Must work within Duolingo’s existing mobile-first, gamified format.

• Lessons should stay simple, approachable, and fun.

• Avoid turning it into heavy academic content.

• Acknowledge that content libraries may be smaller than for global languages.