What Does Your Language Training Really Cost?
Corporate language programmes can suffer from an engagement gap.
Cost per learning hour
What are you really paying per hour of learning?
Most teams budget per licence — but the number that decides value is your realised cost per learning hour. Work it out in about a minute, and see how it compares to the industry.
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Tell us the details of your programme
Approximate figures are fine — you can refine each input once you've seen your result.
Your realised cost per learning hour
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Next step
Want to walk through your numbers?
See how your result compares to industry benchmarks — and the engagement levers that move it most. Talk to a team that has done this for 600+ organisations.
Get in touchThe metric that determines ROI
When choosing a corporate language provider, it's tempting to compare licence prices and choose the cheapest. But this approach ignores the single biggest factor in training ROI: whether employees actually use the platform.
A low-priced app with poor engagement delivers far less value per learning hour than a higher-priced programme that learners actually complete. The licence fee is just the starting point: the number of learners who use a programme determines the true return.
How to get your team learning
What actually drives employees to learn? Research consistently points to one factor: human accountability. Live interaction with tutors creates commitment that self-directed apps simply cannot match.
Busuu's blended approach, combining self-study with Live Lessons from professional teachers, is proven to push engagement from the industry average of 25% to 60% or higher.
Frequently asked questions
Divide your total annual programme spend (including licences, admin time, and any other costs) by the total number of learning hours completed by all employees.
For example, if employees complete 3,000 hours of learning, your cost per hour is relatively low. But with the same investment and only 1,000 hours completed, you're paying three times as much per hour. Low engagement dramatically increases the cost per learning hour.
The more employees participate in their training, the better your return on investment. When more people join in, your cost per learning hour drops. Double your engagement, and you cut your cost per hour in half.
Language training prices vary a lot depending on format, intensity, and provider. But the sticker price can be misleading. A pricier programme where employees actually learn often delivers better value than a cheap one that sits unused. The licence fee only tells part of the story, so always calculate your cost per learning hour to see what you're really paying.
Engagement starts with relevance. Employees are more likely to use a programme that fits their job, their schedule, and their goals. Look for solutions that offer flexibility, personalised content, and clear progress tracking. Making learning easy to access (on mobile, in short sessions, or integrated into the workday) also helps. Finally, support from managers and tying learning to career development can make a real difference.