Duolingo, Does it Really Work for Learning Languages?

 

Blog: Duolingo, Does it Really Work for Learning Languages?

By: Fernanda Lucía Montiel Ochoa
Group: 4D - Afternoon Shift

Hey everyone!  I’m Fernanda Lucía Montiel Ochoa, and I’m in group 4D, afternoon shift. In this post, I want to talk about an app, Duolingo.

What is Duolingo?

Duolingo is an app for learning languages that, unlike traditional classes, doesn’t make you feel like you’re studying at all. It’s more like a game where you level up as you learn vocabulary, grammar, and phrases. You can learn all kinds of languages, from the most common ones like English, French, German, to more unusual ones like Esperanto or Gaelic (pretty cool, right?).

The best part is that you can use it from your phone, whenever you want, like when you’re on the bus or just waiting around. It’s like having a mini language class in your pocket!

Why Do I Like It So Much?

1. It’s free (and who doesn’t love free stuff?): You don’t have to pay for anything, just download the app and you’re good to go. Plus, if you don’t have internet, you can still practice in some cases. It’s super accessible.

2. It’s fun: At first, I thought it was weird to learn through a game, but it’s actually super addictive. You complete lessons, earn points, and even have a daily “streak” where you challenge yourself to study every day. It’s like a game that makes you feel good when you level up!

3. You learn at your own pace: You can study whenever and wherever you want. No need to be in a class, and I love that because it doesn’t feel like “I HAVE to finish this now.”

4. It motivates you a lot: The app congratulates you when you hit your goals, gives you medals, and all of that makes you want to keep going. Plus, you can see your progress, which makes you want to keep going even more.

Is It Really Useful for Learning a Language?

For starting with a language or improving what you already know, Duolingo is awesome. It covers everything: vocabulary, grammar, and even writing exercises. That said, if you already have some level in the language, I don’t think it’s enough on its own. There’s not much focus on real conversation, and you can’t talk to native speakers. So, you won’t become fluent just by using the app.

But for me, as a supplement to other things I do to learn, it’s perfect.

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Conclusion

As you can see, everyone has their own opinion about Duolingo, but most of us agree that it’s a great tool for starting out or reinforcing a language, especially if you want something that keeps you motivated and lets you learn at your own pace. However, if what you want is to speak like a native, you definitely need more than just the app.

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Now I want to hear from you, what do you think about Duolingo?

Have you tried it? What do you think? I’d love to know if it works for you or if you prefer other ways to learn. Leave your comments below! 

See you in the next post. Bye for now!