Introducing Duet, my submission for Swift Student Challenge 2026.

Duet started from a personal experience as an international student. I met a friend who speaks a different native language, and we wanted to learn each other's languages. However, every app we tried only offered a solo experience; individual flashcards, personal progress, with no exchange.

I thought language learning should be social. It needs to connect people and allow them to exchange their languages, not leave them in isolated learning.

So I built Duet, a tool that acts as a bridge in collaborative language learning.

Duet is an iPad app where two people sit face-to-face or side-by-side and teach each other their native languages. One side of the screen faces you; the other faces your partner. You write your translation, then reveal it to teach the other person. Duet never explicitly dictates how to teach; both translations and pronunciations are written by the users. The app guides the session, but the humans do the teaching; it is a bridge, not a teacher.

Duet uses Apple's Foundation Models Framework to generate personalised learning plans and assist with translation or pronunciation when asked. But the AI only acts when absolutely necessary — keeping autonomy with the people, putting them at the centre of the design.

Language learning should be social. Duet makes it tangible. Learn more.