Busuu is designed to provide a complete self-study environment for language learners: Each lesson is grouped around a particular communicative focus (for example: introducing yourself, describing your hometown, or ordering food in a restaurant). Each unit within a lesson is designed to teach useful language in bite-sized chunks (phrases and sentences) that the student can then reproduce in both controlled and free practice activities.

Busuu’s courses are developed by language experts who apply the best principles from communicative classroom teaching to the content.

Each language course on Busuu is developed using the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), an internationally recognised standard for creating language lessons. The CEFR is broken down into six stages, ranging from complete beginner to complete fluency. Courses cover the first four stages of the CEFR, from A1 Beginner to B2 Upper Intermediate level.