The challenge
Ensign Peak Academy initially utilized another language learning program to complement their World Languages curriculum. While effective in immersion, it lacked the direct instruction and focus on grammar that is necessary for students to learn a new language.
The need for a more balanced approach—combining immersion with structured grammar lessons—prompted Diann Jeppson, the Director of Ensign Peak Academy, and Kursten Mason, the World Languages Director, to seek a new solution that would engage their student body and meet educational standards.
Why Babbel?
After thorough research, Jeppson and Mason found Babbel for Business to be the ideal solution. Babbel offers a blend of immersion techniques, direct grammar instruction, and a user-friendly interface to keep students engaged and interested. At 10-15 minutes each, the lessons are concise and varied, allowing students to engage without feeling overwhelmed with new information.
“There’s listening, speaking, reading, and writing with the immersion part, but it also has direct instruction, especially grammar for when you are talking about sentence structure.”
Kursten Mason, World Languages Director, about the perks of Babbel
Mason and Jeppson wanted something that would be easy to access and understand, which made Babbel the perfect fit for their needs. The platform also offers a mix of lessons that feature new content and reviews for previous lessons when needed. “All of those parts have been fabulous,” Mason continued.
Jeppson highlighted the setup of the Babbel App and its user-friendly interface. “We really want to stay current for today’s high school students who are in a very graphic-saturated world,” she said. “They need to be engaged with graphics that feel modern.”
They appreciate the quick and easy nature of the Babbel lessons and how it gives the students a well-rounded approach to learning a foreign language. “We love how you’ve broken down the Babbel lessons,” Mason said. She incorporates about three to four Babbel lessons into her curriculum each week and makes it part of their final grade.
“I like that it’s very research-based, as far as language learning goes, to have six or seven new words or phrases that you learn each time. Also, the reviews in Babbel are more adaptive.”
Kursten Mason
Mason, a French and English teacher, believes that the grammar portion of Babbel has even helped students with their English, saying “They start to understand what a verb is and what it means to conjugate it.”
Ensign Peak Academy prides themselves on offering a curriculum that prepares students for college and beyond. With the implementation of Babbel into their language program, they do just that.
“We want our students to be well prepared for the college environment and have international relationships in business or in their social life. We want them to feel capable of learning another language if they need to or if that becomes a part of their future. Maybe they’ll go live in another country or do business.”
Kursten Mason
While the program’s adaptability and alignment with recognized educational standards make it a compelling choice for Ensign Peak Academy, it was Babbel’s affordability—half the cost of their previous language learning program—that was a significant factor, especially for a small private school with tight budgets.
Another perk of Babbel for Business is the hands-on approach of the Customer Success Managers. Mason and Jeppson appreciate that their Customer Success Manager understands their program’s needs and is available whenever they have questions or want help customizing the platform for school learning.
“I think we have better completion rates, better progress rates, and higher satisfaction [with Babbel]. Far fewer students are dropping out of our World Language courses, and they enjoy it. They are happier, and I think they’re learning better. We are big fans. We love Babbel, and we would happily recommend it to others.”
Diann Jeppson
Summary
Since incorporating Babbel for Business into their curriculum, Ensign Peak Academy has witnessed higher student engagement. Students are completing lessons more consistently and showing improved progress in their language skills. Mason and Jeppson have found Babbel to be a great way to keep them motivated throughout the school year.
The school is optimistic about the future of their World Language program and is eager to recommend Babbel to other educational institutions. As Jeppson noted, “I really think it’s going to become the leader in education in the United States.”
