Frequently Asked Questions

We use advanced large language models to generate all content — articles, grammar exercises, conversations, phrase books, and feedback. Every piece of content is calibrated to your CEFR level and generated fresh, so you always have new material to work with.

Yes. AI generates new content on every request. You'll never see the same Reading Lab article or U Translate paragraph twice. This means unlimited practice material that stays fresh and challenging.

Language Partner uses a combination of speech recognition and AI language models to enable real-time voice conversations. The AI understands your spoken input, responds naturally, and can correct your pronunciation and grammar in real time.

We use the data needed to run your account and personalize content (progress, vocabulary and preferences). For details on what we store and how it's used, please see our Privacy Policy. If you have specific concerns about data use, export, or deletion, contact us via the in-app contact form and we'll guide you through options.

After you create an account we may send you a short welcome email sequence with tips to get started. To opt out of marketing emails, click the Unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email we send, or contact us via the in-app contact form (Settings → Contact) and ask to be removed from the mailing list. Transactional emails (email verification, password reset) cannot be opted out of as they are required for account security.

The Reading Lab uses AI to generate fresh articles matched to your CEFR level on topics you choose. While reading, you can tap any word to see its translation and instantly save it to your vocabulary for spaced-repetition review.

Language Partner lets you have real voice conversations with AI in three modes:

• Repeat Mode — Practice pronunciation by repeating phrases
• Conversation Mode — Free-flowing dialogue on any topic
• Office Hours — Ask any language question and get a detailed explanation

AI generates a paragraph in English. You translate it sentence by sentence into your target language. After each sentence, you get instant detailed feedback on grammar, word choice, and natural phrasing. It's one of the most effective active-recall exercises in the app.

Testing Tenses provides language-specific grammar drills tailored to each language's unique challenges — Spanish subjunctive, Japanese politeness levels, German cases, French past tenses, and more. Exercises are generated by AI at your CEFR level.

Spin the wheel and land on one of 8 categories. Answer trivia questions written entirely in your target language. It's a fun, low-pressure way to build reading comprehension and pick up cultural knowledge.

The library includes 9 curated phrase books covering essential topics like travel, dining, business, emergencies, and daily life. Each phrase includes audio pronunciation and can be saved to your vocabulary.

Yes! You can ask the AI to generate a complete phrase book on any topic — medical terminology, wine vocabulary, sports, cooking, tech jargon — instantly created at your CEFR level.

Yes — visit sciencebasedlearning.com/blog for articles on language learning tips, science-backed study strategies, and feature updates. Posts are free to read with no account required.

Professor Mode is available from any screen in the app. Activate it whenever you're confused about a grammar rule, verb conjugation, or usage question. You'll get a clear, detailed explanation tailored to your level — like having a language tutor on speed dial.

Every word you tap across any tool is automatically saved to My Vocabulary. Each word comes with:

• AI-generated example sentences
• Mnemonic memory aids
• Native audio pronunciation
• Spaced-repetition scheduling (SM-2 algorithm)

Words appear for review right when your brain is about to forget them.

The Pro plan includes offline mode — lessons and saved vocabulary can be accessed without an internet connection. Free-tier users need a connection for AI content generation (Reading Lab articles, U Translate paragraphs, voice conversations). Offline vocabulary review (spaced-repetition flashcards) is available on Pro.

The Learning Techniques Library (at sciencebasedlearning.com/language-learning-techniques) is a free reference resource written by Bo Bennett, PhD. It covers nine evidence-based study strategies — including spaced repetition, active recall, interleaving, elaborative interrogation, and more — with descriptions, supporting research, practical how-to steps, and difficulty ratings. No account is required to access it.

Visit our free How-To Learning Hub for in-depth step-by-step guides on learning Spanish, French, Korean, Japanese, and many other languages. We also have dedicated overview pages for Spanish, French, Japanese, and Korean with study strategies and app tips. No account required.

The Resources menu in the navigation links to a set of free reference guides including language-specific overview pages (Spanish, French, Japanese, Korean), an AI Language Tutor guide, a language app comparison guide, a tools overview, and a study techniques library. All are free with no account required.

ScienceBasedLearning is an AI-powered language learning app that combines cognitive science (spaced repetition, active recall) with 7 interactive tools — from voice conversations to grammar drills to AI-generated reading. Available for iPhone with support for 15 languages at CEFR levels A1 through C2.

Getting started takes under a minute. When you first open the app, choose your target language from 15 available options, set your CEFR level (A1–C2), and pick a daily learning goal (5, 10, 15, or 20 minutes). The app immediately calibrates all content to your level. You can change your language or level at any time in Settings.

Once you register, we send a verification email — click the link within 24 hours to activate your account. You will also receive a short welcome email series with tips to help you get started. Your free-tier access begins immediately, so you can explore the app right away. If you do not receive the verification email, check your spam folder or use the resend option in the app.

Yes — you can sign in with Google. Tap "Sign in with Google" on the login screen. If this is your first time signing in with Google we will create an account for you using the Google email and profile. If you run into issues, contact support and include the email shown by Google.

We currently support 15 languages: Arabic, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin (Chinese), Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish. More languages may be added in future updates.

CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) is the international standard for measuring language proficiency, from A1 (complete beginner) to C2 (mastery). When you set your level, all content — reading articles, grammar drills, conversations — is automatically calibrated to match. You can change your level anytime as you progress.

Yes! You can download and use the app for free with access to core features. A Pro subscription unlocks unlimited AI content generation, unlimited use of all 7 tools, advanced vocabulary features, and priority support. Billing for Pro subscriptions is handled by the App Store (Apple); to restore purchases on a new device use Settings → Restore Purchases. Refund requests for App Store charges should be submitted to Apple (reportaproblem.apple.com); if you need help after Apple's response, contact support with your Apple receipt or transaction ID and we will advise.

Go to Settings in the app. You can switch your target language or adjust your CEFR level at any time. All content will immediately recalibrate to your new selection.

Open the app and go to Settings → Profile → Avatar (or tap your current avatar). You can upload an image from your device. Supported file types include PNG, JPG/JPEG, GIF, and WEBP. For best results use a square image and keep the file reasonably small (under ~5MB). If you see an error when uploading, try restarting the app or uploading from another device. If the problem persists, contact support via the in-app contact form and include your device model and app version.

ScienceBasedLearning is currently available on iPhone via the App Store. iPad and Android versions are planned for future release.

Verifying your email helps secure your account and enables certain features. After registration we send a verification link that expires in 24 hours — click it to complete sign-up. Note: if you sign in with Google, your email is typically verified automatically. If the link expires or you didn't receive it, request a new verification email from the app or contact support for help.

If you didn't receive the verification email, first check your spam/junk folder. In the app, go to Settings → Account (or Login/Register) and tap the option to resend the verification email. The verification link expires after 24 hours; if it has expired, request a new verification email from the app. If you still don't receive it or the link fails, contact support via the in-app contact form or email support@sciencebasedlearning.com with the email address you used to register and we'll resend the link or assist with verification.

You can create an account either on the website (sciencebasedlearning.com/register) or directly inside the iOS app — both methods create the same account. Use whichever is most convenient. Google Sign-In is also available on both.

If you used "Sign in with Google" and the Google email matches an existing SBL account we will sign you in automatically. In a small number of cases a username collision can occur (we append a short suffix to make a unique username), but your email still controls login. If you are not being signed in, first confirm which Google account you used and try the Google Sign-In flow again. If that doesn't work, contact support and include the Google email shown during sign-in and the email address you used for your original SBL account so we can diagnose and, if needed, merge or recover access.

We use the SM-2 algorithm, the gold standard in memory science. When you review a vocabulary word, the algorithm tracks how well you remembered it and schedules the next review at the optimal moment — right before you'd forget. Easy words get spaced further apart; difficult words come back sooner.

You set a daily learning goal (in minutes) when you start. The app tracks your time across all tools and shows your progress. Building a streak motivates consistency — the single most important factor in language learning.

Your dashboard shows daily goal completion, streak count, vocabulary size, and tool usage. You can see how many words you've mastered, how many are in review, and your overall activity trends over time.

Annual subscription plans may be available through the App Store inside the iOS app — check Settings → Upgrade for current options. The website offers monthly billing. Annual App Store plans are tied to your Apple ID; billing and receipts are managed by Apple.

The free version gives you access to explore the app and try all tools with daily limits. You can see how each tool works and experience the learning method before committing to Pro.

Pro removes all limits and unlocks the full power of the app:

• Unlimited AI content generation
• Unlimited voice conversations
• Unlimited vocabulary saves
• All grammar drill categories
• Custom book generation
• Full spaced-repetition features

Open the app and go to Settings → Upgrade (or tap any "Upgrade" button). Choose the monthly or annual plan and complete the purchase through the App Store. Billing is handled by Apple — once the purchase completes, Pro features unlock immediately. If Pro does not appear after purchase, tap Settings → Restore Purchases.

We offer Standard ($9/month) and Pro ($19/month) subscription plans. You can subscribe on the website (monthly billing) or through the App Store inside the iOS app, where monthly and annual options may be available. Check the in-app purchase screen for current pricing and any promotional offers. For App Store purchases, billing and receipts are handled by Apple.

Pro subscriptions can be purchased on the website (Standard $9/mo, Pro $19/mo, billed via our payment processor) or through the App Store inside the iOS app (Apple manages billing and receipts for in-app purchases). For App Store purchases, check reportaproblem.apple.com for receipts and refunds. For website purchases, contact support with your order confirmation. In both cases you can reach us via the in-app contact form or contact page if you need billing help.

Yes. Subscriptions purchased through the App Store are tied to your Apple ID. On a new device open the app, go to Settings and tap "Restore Purchases". If Restore Purchases does not work, make sure you're signed into the App Store with the same Apple ID used to buy the subscription and then try again. If you still need help, contact support and include your Apple ID email and approximate purchase date.

If you purchased a subscription through the App Store, Apple manages refunds. To request a refund, visit reportaproblem.apple.com or open the App Store, go to your Account > Purchase History and use "Report a Problem" for the charge. If Apple cannot resolve the request and you still need assistance, contact our support with your Apple receipt or transaction ID, the purchase date, and the email associated with your SBL account so we can advise next steps.

We are considering a lifetime purchase option for the future. Currently, we offer monthly and annual subscriptions. Follow us for announcements about new pricing options.

If you see a bright "TEST MODE ACTIVE" banner it indicates payment gateways are in sandbox/test mode and is normally visible only to staff-level admin accounts. No real charges can be made while sandbox mode is active. If you are a customer and see this banner unexpectedly, please contact support with a screenshot so we can investigate.

If you forget your password, open the app and tap "Forgot Password" on the login screen, enter the email linked to your account, and follow the instructions in the password-reset email. The password reset link expires after 2 hours — if it has expired request a new reset from the app. If you signed up with Google (social login), you don't have a separate SBL password — use Google sign-in instead. If you don't receive the reset email within a few minutes, check your spam folder, try resending from the app, and if needed contact support with your account email and device info so we can investigate.

The fastest way is the in-app contact form (Settings → Contact), the contact page on our website, or the contact form embedded on the homepage. You can also text or phone +1 978 522 6530 for quick questions (text preferred for short queries). We aim to respond to contact-form submissions within a few hours during business hours — phone/text responses are immediate when staff are available.

Yes — you can text or call us at +1 978 522 6530 for quick questions (text is preferred for short queries). Standard message and data rates from your carrier may apply. To stop receiving texts, reply "STOP"; reply "HELP" for assistance. For account-specific or sensitive requests, please use the in-app contact form or the website contact form so we can securely verify your identity.

Our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service are linked in the site footer on every page, or you can visit them directly at sciencebasedlearning.com/privacy and sciencebasedlearning.com/terms. Both pages explain how we handle your data and the rules governing use of the service. For data requests or questions, contact us via the in-app contact form.

If you want your account removed, please contact us using the contact form or email support@sciencebasedlearning.com with the subject line "Account Delete Request" and include the email address linked to your account. For security we may ask you to confirm ownership before processing; we'll respond with next steps as soon as possible.

To change the email on your account, open the app and go to Settings → Profile → Email (or Account). If you see an option to update your email, follow the on-screen steps and confirm the change via the verification email we send to the new address. If you don't see an in-app option or need help, contact us via the in-app contact form or email support@sciencebasedlearning.com with your current account email and the new email you'd like to use; we will verify ownership and assist. For security we may ask you to confirm details before making the change. Typical response time: a few hours to 48 hours depending on verification needs.

To request a data export or to have your account deleted, please use the in-app contact form (Settings → Contact) or email support@sciencebasedlearning.com with the subject line "Data Export Request" or "Account Delete Request" and include the email address linked to your account. For data exports we will verify your identity and provide instructions; requests are typically processed within 7 business days. For deletion requests we will verify ownership and provide next steps — note that deletion is irreversible and may remove progress, vocabulary, and account history. See our Privacy Policy for details on data handling.

The fastest way is the in-app contact form (Settings → Contact) or the website contact form. Please include: app version, device model, operating system version, clear reproduction steps, and screenshots or a short screen recording if possible. We'll confirm receipt and aim to respond with next steps as soon as we can; complex investigations may take up to 48 hours.

Our contact form uses a short anti-bot verification (Cloudflare Turnstile). If you see “Security verification failed” please try the following: (1) Make sure JavaScript is enabled and disable ad/track blockers, (2) refresh the page and complete the verification widget before submitting, (3) try a different browser or private/incognito mode, (4) if you still have trouble, text us at +1 978 522 6530 (text preferred) or use the in‑app contact form from the app (Settings → Contact). If you reach out by text, include the email address on your SBL account so we can help faster.

We store the data needed to run your account and provide the app (email, progress, vocabulary, preferences, and analytics). Data is used to sync your progress across devices, generate personalized content, and to improve the product. For full details, please see our Privacy Policy. If you have privacy questions or requests (export/delete), contact us via the contact form.