NeonLingo

NeonLingo is a browser extension that integrates foreign language vocabulary acquisition directly into the everyday activity of web browsing. Rather than relying on flashcard drills or scheduled study sessions, the tool works in the background as a user reads content in their native language. It analyzes the text on any webpage and automatically replaces certain words with their equivalents in a target language—specifically those words that the algorithm predicts the user is ready to learn. This prediction is based on a user’s demonstrated vocabulary knowledge and progression, guided by the principle of “i+1” from linguist Stephen Krashen’s Comprehensible Input theory. Krashen argues that language acquisition happens most naturally when learners are exposed to input just slightly above their current competence level. NeonLingo operationalizes this by selecting words that are one step beyond the user’s known vocabulary, inserting them into contexts where the surrounding native language provides clear meaning. A typical scenario: a Spanish learner reading an English weather forecast sees the sentence “The weather is great today. I want to take a walk in the park,” but the word “park” is displayed in Spanish as “parque.” The learner instantly understands the word without needing a dictionary or translation tool, because the rest of the sentence is in their native language. Over time, repeated exposure to such swapped words in meaningful, low-stress contexts builds lasting vocabulary retention. The extension supports both Chrome and Edge browsers. After installation, users set their native language and the target language they want to absorb. A dashboard or sidebar interface may show recently swapped words, allow users to review them, and optionally reveal the original nati