Saving Money and Time for English Language Programs

Across the country, schools are facing difficult realities: English learner support positions are being reduced, budgets are tightening, and the need for efficient, effective solutions has never been greater.

In this environment, choosing the right English language program isn’t just about providing support—it’s about maximizing limited time, saving money, and accelerating student growth with fewer personnel resources available.

While most English learner platforms are designed as supplemental resources, they differ widely in the amount of teacher time saved, the cost per student, and their overall impact on academic language growth. Some platforms focus narrowly on vocabulary acquisition, while others offer broader skill development—but few address the full needs of multilingual learners while also delivering substantial efficiency gains.

This guide compares six leading supplemental programs side-by-side, evaluating their strengths in saving teacher time, reducing instructional load, and managing program costs.Ultimately, AIR Language, with its AI tutor Ari, stands out by offering the highest time savings, the lowest cost per student, and a stronger foundation for long-term language growth, making it an essential tool for today’s resource-strapped schools.

Rosetta Stone (K–12)

Rosetta Stone (K–12) helps students build vocabulary and basic conversational skills independently. It saves teachers moderate time by offering structured, self-paced practice, although teachers still need to supplement with academic reading and writing instruction. Students typically use Rosetta Stone for 90–120 minutes weekly. At $115+ per student annually, it is a high-cost supplemental tool that may not fully meet multilingual learner needs in academic settings. Schools should expect Rosetta Stone to free up limited instructional minutes—especially for vocabulary exposure—but still plan for additional supports to build deeper literacy skills.

Imagine Learning

Imagine Learning offers gamified reading, grammar, and listening activities that save teachers some time by keeping students independently engaged in foundational language skills. Students typically spend 90–120 minutes a weekworking through leveled content. With a price tag of $125–$150 per student annually, Imagine Learning is a higher-cost supplemental solution. While it doesn't eliminate the need for structured classroom instruction, it does lighten the daily instructional load by reinforcing skills digitally. Schools looking for time savings at the foundational skill level—but requiring additional academic application—may find Imagine Learning useful as part of a blended approach.

Duolingo for SchoolsDuolingo for Schools brings vocabulary practice and basic sentence structures into a highly engaging, gamified environment. It saves teachers some time by allowing students to practice independently, but it does not address academic English needs. Students typically work 60–90 minutes weekly. Duolingo is low-cost (free or about $10 per student) and offers an accessible supplement, especially for motivation and vocabulary building. Schools seeking affordable, limited time savings in vocabulary exposure will appreciate it, but Duolingo requires additional academic-focused instruction to meet true multilingual learner goals.

Lexia English

Lexia English provides targeted practice in oral academic language, helping students independently build vocabulary and sentence complexity. It saves teachers moderate time through structured, self-paced activities and detailed student reports. Students generally spend 90–120 minutes weekly within the platform. Priced between $70 and $95 per student annually, Lexia is a moderately priced supplemental tool that helps teachers reinforce speaking and listening objectives. While academic application still needs classroom support, Lexia reduces small-group intervention needsand provides reliable skill-building practice outside of direct teacher time.

ESL LibraryESL Library offers a huge collection of printable and digital ESL lessons, from vocabulary building to speaking tasks. It saves teachers a small amount of preparation time by providing ready-to-use activities, but direct teaching is still required. Unlike automated platforms, ESL Library does not automate student practice, so overall classroom time savings are limited. Costing approximately $80 per teacher annually, it’s a budget-friendly resource when used to supplement a structured language curriculum. Schools using ESL Library should expect modest time savings in planning, but not in live instruction time.

AIR Language

AIR Language provides a full supplemental program built around the Science of Reading and Communicative Language Teaching. Through structured activities, student self-assessments, standards-aligned reading conferences, and the AI tutor Ari, it saves teachers 1–2 hours weekly in preparation, assessment, and intervention. Students typically need just 60–90 minutes per week of independent work. At $35–$49 per student annually, AIR is one of the lowest-cost supplemental programs on the market, offering the most comprehensive time and cost savings. With AIR, schools can scale academic language development while dramatically reducing teacher workload.

As schools adapt to shrinking budgets and fewer support personnel, the need for cost-effective, time-saving, and student-centered English learner solutions has become critical. While several supplemental platforms offer partial support, many still require heavy teacher involvement or come with a high price tag.

AIR Language is uniquely positioned to meet today's demands: delivering measurable student growth, saving 1–2 hours of teacher time per week, and maintaining an affordable cost of just $35–$49 per student annually. With the addition of Ari, the AI reading tutor, AIR Language helps schools create sustainable, scalable systems for multilingual learner success—even in times of reduced staffing and resources.

Schools no longer have the luxury of investing in solutions that only address part of the need. They require programs that are efficient, affordable, and designed to grow with fewer hands on deck.AIR Language delivers exactly that.

👉 Learn more about AIR Language, or to start a free pilot, click below.