OpenLang FAQ
Getting Started
Q: How do I play the games? ▼
A: Drag the cards from the left column and drop on the right column. Double tap to get a hint. Tap the question mark at the top of the screen for details about scoring. See the Video Guide.
Q: Where can I get more information or suggest improvements? ▼
A: Check out the community forum at forum.openlang.ai.
Q: How can I see a list of all the cards along with the answers? ▼
A: Take a look at the page source code. On desktop, press Control-U in any game and scroll down a page or two. On mobile, add "view-source:" in front of the URL.
Vibe Coding
Q: What is "vibe coding"? ▼
A: Vibe coding is a modern software development approach where creators use natural language to describe the desired behavior, layout, or "vibe" of an application to an AI assistant, rather than manually writing syntax. The AI generates, modifies, and debugs the underlying code based on these conversational prompts. This paradigm gained significant traction around 2024 and 2025 alongside the release of highly capable large language models like Gemini, Claude, and ChatGPT, democratizing software creation for non-programmers.
Q: How do I use this site as a starting point for vibe coding? ▼
A:
→ Find a game that matches the language and game format that interests you.
→ Click the SOURCE button to download the build-instructions for that game.
→ Edit the "Content Generation" section of the build-instructions and save the file.
→ Go to the Google AI Studio in your browser (https://aistudio.google.com).
→ Upload the edited build-instructions and Run.
→ After about three minutes the index.html file will be ready. Just open it in a browser.
The entire process takes less than five minutes, most of which is spent waiting for the AI to produce the game. You can see the process for building a custom game in the Video Guide.
→ Find a game that matches the language and game format that interests you.
→ Click the SOURCE button to download the build-instructions for that game.
→ Edit the "Content Generation" section of the build-instructions and save the file.
→ Go to the Google AI Studio in your browser (https://aistudio.google.com).
→ Upload the edited build-instructions and Run.
→ After about three minutes the index.html file will be ready. Just open it in a browser.
The entire process takes less than five minutes, most of which is spent waiting for the AI to produce the game. You can see the process for building a custom game in the Video Guide.
Q: How much would that cost me? ▼
A: Google AI Studio offers a generous free tier that allows anyone to experiment with their models at no cost, subject to rate limits. Adding a billing account and generating an API key upgrades you to the paid tier, which grants full access to all models with higher rate limits and guaranteed capacity, where you only pay for exactly what you use.
Using an API key and the most advanced model, the cost per game would be about 0.40 USD.
With a flash model, the cost would be an order of magnitude lower (but with higher likelihood of bugs/hallucinations).
Using an API key and the most advanced model, the cost per game would be about 0.40 USD.
With a flash model, the cost would be an order of magnitude lower (but with higher likelihood of bugs/hallucinations).
Q: Why do you build the games with Google AI models instead of Anthropic or OpenAI? ▼
A: The frontier models from any of those companies are capable of producing the games for common languages like French. But Google has more training data for under-resourced languages like Pashto and Navajo. Google also offers models that are substantially cheaper than its competitors.
Foreign Language Voices
Q: How does the speech synthesis work? ▼
A: The site uses the Web Speech API, a web standard that allows browsers to synthesize speech directly from text without needing external audio files. It is widely supported across modern browsers including Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge. The specific languages and voices available depend entirely on the operating system and browser you are using, as the API taps into the native text-to-speech engines installed on your local device.
Q: The speech synthesis sounds robotic or with a completely wrong accent. ▼
A: That problem can often be solved by adding language support on your device (see below). If that does not work, then you can use the MUTE button.
Q: How do I install a foreign language voice on Android? ▼
A: For Android 14-16: Go to Settings → System → Keyboard & input → Text-to-speech output. Tap the gear icon next to your preferred engine, select "Install voice data", and choose your language to download.
For Android 10-13: Go to Settings → Accessibility → Text-to-speech output. Tap the gear icon next to "Preferred engine", tap "Install voice data", and select your desired language.
See the Video Guide.
For Android 10-13: Go to Settings → Accessibility → Text-to-speech output. Tap the gear icon next to "Preferred engine", tap "Install voice data", and select your desired language.
See the Video Guide.
Q: How do I install a foreign language voice on iOS? ▼
A: On iOS 26, navigate to Settings → Accessibility → Read and Speak → Voices. Select your target Language, choose a specific Voice, and tap the Cloud Icon to download it to your device.
See the Video Guide.
See the Video Guide.
Q: How do I install a foreign language voice on MS Windows? ▼
A: Go to Settings → Time & language → Speech. Scroll down to the "Manage voices" section, click "Add voices", search for your target language, select it, and click "Add" to install the voice package.
Q: How do I install a foreign language voice on MacOS? ▼
A: Go to System Settings → Accessibility → Spoken Content. Next to "System voice", click the dropdown menu and select "Manage Voices...". Find your desired language in the list, click the download icon next to the specific voice you want, and click OK.
Q: How do I install a foreign language voice on Linux? ▼
A: Speech synthesis on Linux typically relies on the
speech-dispatcher system. You can install engines like espeak-ng or festival via your distribution's package manager (e.g., sudo apt install espeak-ng on Debian/Ubuntu). Ensure your web browser is configured to interface with speech-dispatcher to enable Web Speech API support.
Q: The language I want to learn is not supported on my Android device. ▼
A: You can install third-party text-to-speech engines like RHVoice. RHVoice is a free, open-source app available on the Google Play Store that provides excellent support for languages often missing from default engines, including Belarusian, Tatar, Esperanto, and Ukrainian. Once installed, set it as your preferred text-to-speech engine in your Android accessibility settings.
See the Video Guide.
See the Video Guide.
Q: The language I want to learn is not supported on Windows. ▼
A: To use a wider variety of languages on Windows, especially with Firefox, you can install
espeak-ng. Download the espeak-ng Windows installer from its official repository and ensure the "SAPI5" option is checked during installation. This adds system-level support for many under-resourced languages that native Windows lacks, such as Esperanto, Scottish Gaelic, and various indigenous languages, making them available to the browser.
Q: How can I turn off audio speech synthesis entirely? ▼
A: Use the MUTE button at the top of the game.
App Installation on Mobile
Q: What are the advantages of installing the app on mobile? ▼
A: Installing the Progressive Web App (PWA) allows you to launch OpenLang directly from your home screen without opening a browser first. It provides a full-screen, immersive experience, enables offline access to games you have already loaded, and performs faster by caching essential resources locally on your device.
Q: How do I install the app on an iPhone? ▼
A: To install the app on an iPhone running iOS 26, open a language page (for example French) in Safari. Tap the three dots menu at the bottom of the screen, and then Share. Scroll down the share menu and tap "Add to Home Screen". Finally, confirm the app's name and tap Add in the top right corner. Then you should open that app when you are still online, at that point the games are actually downloaded.
See the Video Guide.
See the Video Guide.
Q: How do I install the app on Android? ▼
A: On a language page (for example French) tap "Install" and then confirm installation.
See the Video Guide.
See the Video Guide.
Q: Why is the app install process so convoluted on iOS? ▼
A: Apple has historically restricted Progressive Web App (PWA) functionality on iOS to maintain the dominance and security of its native App Store ecosystem. By requiring users to manually add PWAs via the Safari share menu rather than offering a simple, automated "Install" prompt like Android does, Apple ensures that native apps remain the primary and easiest way users discover and install software on iPhones.
About the Project
Q: What are some advantages of learning a second language? ▼
Cognitive benefits with regard to dementia: Learning a second language builds cognitive reserve, strengthening the brain's neural pathways. Studies have shown that bilingualism can delay the onset of dementia and Alzheimer's disease by several years compared to monolinguals, as the constant mental juggling of two languages keeps the brain active and resilient.
Tourism is more fulfilling when you speak the local language: Traveling becomes vastly more immersive when you can communicate with locals in their native tongue. It opens doors to authentic experiences, helps you navigate off the beaten path, and fosters genuine connections and mutual respect that are often lost when relying solely on English or translation apps.
Business deals are easier when you speak your partner's language: In the global market, speaking a client's or partner's language demonstrates respect and cultural awareness. It helps build trust, prevents costly misunderstandings, and gives you a competitive edge in negotiations by allowing you to pick up on subtle nuances and build stronger interpersonal relationships.
Many schools and universities require foreign language study: Academic institutions globally recognize the value of bilingualism, often mandating foreign language credits for graduation or college admissions. Mastering a language not only fulfills these academic requirements but also broadens a student's worldview and enhances their analytical and problem-solving skills.
Q: What AI models were used to produce this site? ▼
A: The drag-and-drop games were produced by Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview. It provided the best language coverage, especially for endangered languages like Navajo.
The top-level language pages like French were produced by Claude Opus.
The home page, FAQ, and "Video Guides" pages were made with Gemini.
Q: What is the monetization model for the site? ▼
A: Minimally intrusive targeted ads (not on the games themselves). The site also serves as a portfolio asset and proof of concept.