Memrise, the app that’s helped 76 million people go from “I know a few words” to “I can actually have a conversation,” is launching its 30-Day Language Challenge on June 2, 2025. The idea is simple: spend just a few minutes a day learning a language. There are no boring drills, no guilt-tripping streaks, and definitely no robotic sentence practice. Stick with it through July 2, and not only will you build real confidence, you might even win a $1,000 travel voucher to put those new skills to work somewhere unforgettable
So, yes, that could mean sipping cortados in Spain, ordering bratwurst in Germany, or actually understanding the conversations happening around you in a Parisian café, not just asking, “Où sont les toilettes?”
Why This Challenge Matters (Especially If Your High School Language Didn’t Stick)
If you’re anything like me, you took a language in high school (I chose French because it sounded more romantic than Spanish), but I never had the chance to use it in real life. As an Animal Science major, I didn’t need the college-level language classes required for other degrees, so I let it slide. In hindsight? Not the best call.
I ended up with a vocabulary limited to “bonjour,” “au revoir,” “merci,” and of course, “où sont les toilettes?” That works until you’re in Paris and realize you can’t keep up with real conversations, or read a menu without guessing.
These days, I travel to Barcelona every year for Mobile World Congress and to Berlin for IFA, in addition to other work-related trips and vacations with my husband. I’d love to speak Spanish, German, or Portuguese well enough to be understood without needing to point at a picture or use a translation app.
Flashback to the time this bartender taught me that sparkling wine is called “Sekt” in Germany.
That’s exactly why this Memrise Challenge piqued my interest, and why I’ll be participating.
What the Memrise 30-Day Challenge Actually Is
Starting June 2 and running through July 2, the Memrise 30-Day Challenge invites you to commit to daily language learning; it takes just ten minutes a day. No cram sessions, no flashcard fatigue. It’s all bite-sized and easy to fit into your routine.
You’ll use the Memrise app (available on iOS and Android) to learn with native speaker videos, have short chats powered by AI, and pick up vocabulary that actually matters to your life, not random sentences about cats hiding under tables, unless you’re into that.
Before July 2, just take a screenshot of your “My Activities” tracker in the app; it shows how many words you learned, heard, and used during the challenge. Send it in, and you’re officially in the running for the $1,000 travel voucher. One participant will be randomly selected and notified by email on July 7.
It’s open to every language Memrise offers, and there’s no need to be a beginner. Whether you’re starting from scratch or brushing up before your next international trip, you can dive in.
Here’s What Makes Memrise Feel Different
Now, if you’ve tried other language learning apps and walked away feeling more frustrated than fluent, you’re not alone. What sets Memrise apart is that it focuses on how language is actually used, rather than textbook sentences that no one uses in real life.
You can also practice pronunciation, build sentences, and chat with MemBot, your friendly AI tutor. It won’t judge if you mangle a tricky word — or three.
For example, before I start prepping for my next trip to Spain in February, I can use Memrise to practice phrases I’ll actually use in Barcelona, like ordering food, navigating public transportation, or chatting about tech trends with local colleagues. And before I head to Berlin for IFA, I can switch to German and practice enough to order a currywurst without freezing up at the counter.
Free or Pro? Here’s the Breakdown
The free plan gives you access to all languages, native speaker videos, AI conversation practice, sentence building, and pronunciation tools; there’s enough to get started with confidence.
If you want more, the Pro plan unlocks grammar lessons, verb drills, cultural tips, extra AI role-play sessions, and gives you ad-free access to every vocabulary lesson. Pricing is flexible: $24.99 monthly, $37.49 for the first year of an annual plan (normally $74.99), or $289.99 for lifetime access, with a single payment and no renewals.
Memberships apply to your account, not a specific language, so you can hop between languages and use the app across all your devices.
What You’ll Learn (and How)
Memrise’s approach is built around three pillars: Learn, Immerse, and Communicate. This trio forms what they call the Memrise Stool, a three-legged learning method that might sound quirky but actually works.
First, you learn relevant words, phrases, and grammar through personalized courses. Then you immerse yourself by watching videos that match your current skill level; there’s no overwhelming content, just steady progress. Finally, you communicate through low-stress conversation practice using AI, which is great if you’re shy or not quite ready for a real-world convo.
This combo gives you a full picture of how the language works and feels, without overwhelming you. Instead of memorizing words you’ll forget in a week, you’ll build real-world confidence and actual recall.
A Peek Behind the App
Memrise wasn’t cooked up in some random startup garage. It was founded in 2010 by three Oxford graduates, Ed Cooke, Ben Whately, and Greg Detre, who were obsessed with how the brain learns. Ed got so into it that he became a Grandmaster of Memory and won the U.S. memory championships. Greg earned a PhD in neuroscience from Princeton, and Ben flew to a remote city in northern China just to prove his language theories by teaching himself Mandarin.
Together, they fused their research to create Memrise, a platform that actually reflects how people learn best: through emotion, repetition, context, and fun. Their core idea is that language immersion works best when it’s personalized, low-stakes, and woven into daily life.
So, Should You Do It?
If you’ve ever wanted to feel more confident ordering food in another country, chatting with locals, or just understanding what your favorite K-drama character is actually saying without subtitles, the 30-Day Language Challenge is a solid starting point.
There’s no pressure to become a polyglot overnight. You just show up each day, commit to learning for a few minutes, and see where it takes you. And if you end up winning that $1,000 travel voucher? Even better. At least then, when you’re sipping sangria on a Barcelona rooftop or picking up fresh pastries in a Parisian boulangerie, you’ll be able to do more than just smile and nod.
And let’s be honest: Being able to confidently say more than “où sont les toilettes?” feels like a win all on its own.