Preply's First Annual "Progress Report" Finds Nearly Half of Learners Struggle to Apply What They Learn in Real Life, Despite Having More Access to Learning Than Ever Before
New Research Surveying Over 5,000 Professionals Across Nine Countries Reveals a Gap in Global Learning Outcomes in the Age of AI
NEW YORK, Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Preply, the #1 global language learning marketplace, today released its first-ever Progress Report, examining how technology is reshaping the learning experience and what real progress looks like in the age of AI. Drawing on a global survey of more than 5,000 working professionals, external research, and perspectives from learning experts, the report finds a disconnect between learning activity and real-world application.
The research identifies what Preply calls "The Progress Gap," the distance between the progress people feel they are making while learning and their confidence applying those skills in real-world situations.
KEY FINDINGS INCLUDE:
- 49% of learners surveyed say they have maintained a learning routine for months, but still struggle to apply what they learned in real life.
- 63% say they feel busy learning without truly improving.
- 75% trust a learning experience that combines AI and human expertise for long-term progress, over just 11% who say they would prefer a fully self-directed AI approach.
Together, the findings suggest that achieving real progress depends on more than access to knowledge alone.
According to the survey, 76% or respondents say they spend more time learning today than they did two years ago, using an average of 3 different learning methods, ranging from AI tools to employer training, online courses, short video learnings and more. However, 52% say they are spending more time learning without always seeing better results.
The findings come as AI rapidly transforms how people learn. Today, 88% of professionals surveyed already use AI as part of their learning, making it an increasingly common part of how they build new skills. Yet, two-thirds (66%) agree that having access to information does not automatically lead to progress, and more than half (55%) also say it's harder than ever to know what genuinely helps them improve.
"We are living through the biggest shift of all time when it comes to access to learning," said Sofia Tavares, Chief Brand Officer at Preply. "AI has made knowledge instantly accessible. The hard part is what happens next, when you close the app, leave the lesson, and need to use what you've learned in a real life situation. Being able to apply learnings confidently, when it matters, is where real progress lives."
Preply's research points to the value of AI, but also the continued importance of human expertise as AI becomes more embedded in learning.
While survey participants say that AI helps them find answers to questions more quickly (47%) and makes learning more accessible and flexible (36%), 90% said they want AI to play a supporting role rather than lead their learning.
"People value AI because it helps them learn more easily," said Preply CEO Kirill Bigai. "They value people because they make learning stick, and translate knowledge into real world ability. This is the role that our more than 150,000 tutors around the world play every day. The way learning is evolving isn't about asking one to replace the other. Together, human expertise and AI are creating the conditions for real progress."
The research also reveals significant differences in how people learn across generations, career levels, and countries. A snapshot of additional findings shows:
GEN Z EXPERIENCES THE BIGGEST PROGRESS GAP:
Gen Z has the highest AI adoption of any generation at 92%, but also reports experiencing the biggest challenges turning learning into progress. Compared with Gen X:
- 71% feel busy learning without improving, vs. 56% of Gen X.
- 57% have struggled to apply what they've learned in real life, vs. 40% of Gen X.
- 68% abandoned learning in the past year, vs. 38% of Gen X.
Gen Z is also more likely than Gen X to say they rely on AI more than they'd like (31% vs. 24%) and that learning with AI feels passive rather than active (31% vs. 23%).
AI USAGE DIFFERS ACROSS CAREER LEVELS AND COUNTRIES:
AI use is widespread, but who uses it most frequently varies across seniority and markets.
- 47% of senior leaders use AI for learning daily, compared with 35% of junior/middle managers and 31% of non-managerial employees.
- Senior leaders are also nearly twice as likely as other seniority groups to want AI to take the lead in their learning (16% vs. 8–10%).
- Geographically, Argentina and Poland have the highest overall AI adoption at 93%, compared with 85% in the U.S. and Japan - the lowest rate of all countries surveyed. Argentina also has the highest daily use of any market at 42%.
LEARNING MOTIVATION LOOKS VERY DIFFERENT AROUND THE WORLD:
Improving performance at work is the biggest motivation globally, but what drives professional learning varies considerably across markets.
- The U.S. and UK are among the most performance-driven, with 50% of U.S. professionals and 54% of UK professionals reporting learning to improve in their current role, compared with 41% globally.
- Germany and Poland are the only markets where personal interest comes first, ranking as the top motivation in Germany (33% vs. 28% improving performance) and Poland (30% vs. 25%). By comparison, 23% of U.S. professionals cite personal interest.
- Japan stands apart for employer-driven learning: 26% are learning because their employer requires it, nearly twice the 14% global average and more than double the 12% in the U.S.
"What motivates people, how they learn, and where they struggle changes across generations, careers, and countries," says Preply Chief Product Officer Josh Crossick. "Modern learning must reflect those differences. That means building experiences around individual goals, motivation, and needs, instead of asking every learner to follow the same path."
Full findings from Preply's first-ever Progress Report are available at Preply.com.
ABOUT PREPLY
Preply is the human-led, AI-enabled language learning platform building the future of learning. With a global network of more than 150,000 tutors teaching over 90 languages, we are the category leader and the largest online marketplace and app that brings human tutors together with learners from 180 countries, supporting them with always-on, AI-powered tools to deliver real progress with every lesson.
Our mission is to create life-changing learning experiences by powering real progress through personalized learning, motivation, and high-quality tutoring at scale. We believe that we are uniquely positioned to become the company that understands human learning better than anyone on the planet.
Media Contact:
Lauren Doyle
Global PR & Communications Lead
Lauren.Doyle@preply.com
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