Whether you're a casual language learner, a polyglot, or someone who's been around the internet for a while, chances are you've heard of the Duolingo app. It's that one language app where you can learn Spanish, French, and a whopping 40 other languages! Like other language apps, Duolingo aims to make language learning fun. But be warned, if you miss a day, the green owl mascot will come knocking at your door at night to remind you of your promise.

I've spoken to language learners who swear by Duolingo, claiming it's one of the best ways to pick up a new language. On the other hand, there are those who despise it. For years, I found myself in the latter group. However, my opinion of that green owl has finally taken a turn.

So, let's dive into why I used to loathe this app and how I've now found a way to make Duolingo work for me in improving my target language.

Why Did I Dislike Duolingo?

Before fully committing to Turkish, I dabbled in other languages such as Spanish, Persian, and even Arabic. Like any casual learner, I started my journey with Duolingo. However, my first issue with Duolingo was its lack of speed.

I have ADHD, and slow things make me want to quit altogether. Unfortunately, Duolingo's repetitive lessons didn't help. While spaced repetition is proven to be effective for learning, Duolingo seemed to overdo it, making the process feel monotonous.

Another concern I had with Duolingo was its lack of grammar explanation. I understand that Duolingo aims to break away from the traditional way of teaching language. However, as dull as grammar can be, it's the foundation of any language and the lack of explanation makes the app unsuitable for absolute beginners. Now there are websites such as Duome where you can read notes for different languages. But wouldn't it be nicer to have everything in the same app?

My Current Stance on Duolingo App

Over a year, I installed and deleted the Duolingo app multiple times. Each time I deleted it, I would come across posts in the language learning community praising Duolingo, tempting me to give it one last chance. Maybe this time, I thought, I'd see its appeal.

And it finally happened. But did Duolingo change something that made me fall in love with it?

Not really. The app remained the same. It was my perspective and expectations that shifted.

Before, I viewed Duolingo as a language-learning app. Now I understand that expecting fluency from Duolingo is incorrect. What Duolingo offers is a fun way to integrate bursts of language learning into your daily life. The language courses on this free app aren't designed to make you fluent, but rather to supplement your language-learning journey.

Nowadays, I use the app to warm up before my daily language learning tasks. Instead of relying on Duolingo to teach me grammar, I use it to get my brain warmed up and learn a new word or two.

It also works great to assess my language learning skills to an extent. Often after learning a specific grammar lesson of Turkish, I would turn on Duolingo and take lessons of the exact lesson to actually use the grammar that I just learned.

What I Currently Love about Duolingo App

The following are a few features that make me adore Duolingo:

Gamification

I have the attention span of a five-year-old (not literally). What I mean is that I love shiny, colorful things. Duolingo's gamified animations make the learning experience more enjoyable. Earning coins and diamonds adds to the motivation, making you want to earn more and spend more time on Duolingo, leading to greater progress.

A word of caution: Gamification can sometimes have a negative effect. I remember getting so obsessed with earning more coins that I ended up using Duolingo for two straight hours. Unfortunately, I don't recall much of what I learned during that time!

An Abundance of Language Courses

Let's talk about one of my favorite language-learning apps, Babbel. It's undeniably great, but Duolingo has one major advantage: its wide range of languages. Duolingo offers 40+ languages and over 100 language courses. So, if you're learning a language, chances are Duolingo has a course for you.

Comparing that to my personal favorite, Babbel, it only offers 14+ languages (less than half of what Duolingo provides). Other well-known language learning apps like Busuu also offer just 14 languages. Can you see the trend?

Of course, there are a few outliers. LingoDeer, for instance, offers 40+ languages and is right up there with Duolingo!

Free Language Learning App

Unlike many other language learning apps, Duolingo doesn't require you to pay to improve your target language skills. Let me clarify: yes, there's a Super Duolingo version. But you don't need to spend a dime because the free version offers everything you need to succeed on your journey. The only difference is that the free version gives you five hearts, and for each mistake, you lose one. Once your heart scale hit zero, you can't continue playing. With Duolingo Plus, however, you get unlimited hearts, so you can learn as much as you want. And yes, the free version does include ads, but after a decade of religiously watching YouTube, we've all become immune to ads, haven't we?

With that said, if you love Duolingo and want to get unlimited hearts, then the monthly plan costs only $12.99. Plus, if you get the yearly subscription, Duolingo's cost comes down to $6.99 per month.

Read more about Super Duolingo subscription!

Multifunctional Language Learning Tool

Instead of focusing on one language skill (speaking, writing, listening, reading, grammar, or vocabulary), Duolingo gives you a little bit of everything. The lessons are usually based on grammar rules, but you will be improving each of the language skills due to the way these lessons are formed.

Absurd Yet Unique Storytelling

We've all encountered those outrageous sentences the green owl throws our way. While some people see them as mere jokes, I sincerely appreciate Duolingo's wild imagination. I believe the crazier the sentence, the easier it is to remember. Plus, thanks to these absurd sentences, you end up learning vocabulary that you wouldn't encounter otherwise. It's like a hidden perk of Duolingo!

FAQs

What is Duolingo and how does it help you learn a new language?

Duolingo is a free mobile app designed by language experts to make learning a foreign language an engaging and convenient experience. It offers language lessons in a variety of languages, allowing you to choose the language you want to learn. By using Duolingo, you can easily learn another language at your own pace, whether you're a beginner or looking to supplement a language class.

How does Duolingo work as a language learning tool?

Duolingo offers a comprehensive set of lessons on the app and website, covering the basics of a language and gradually progressing to more advanced topics. You can choose the language you want to learn, and the app guides you through exercises that focus on reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The app is designed to be interactive and engaging, making language learning a fun experience.

Is Duolingo effective for language learning?

Duolingo is a great tool for learning a language without the need for formal classes. It's designed to help you practice your language skills and improve your knowledge of the language over time. While Duolingo offers a free version, you can also pay for additional features. Many users highly recommend Duolingo due to its user-friendly interface and its effectiveness in language learning progress.

What are the pros and cons of using Duolingo to learn a language?

Duolingo has several advantages, such as its accessibility, engaging lessons, and convenience. It's a free app for learning and is constantly improving its features. However, some users find that it might not provide the same level of fluency as immersive experiences or traditional language classes. It's recommended to use Duolingo as a supplemental tool for language learning.

How does Duolingo compare to other language learning apps?

Duolingo is among the best free language learning programs available. It's a great app to use, especially if you're new to the language you want to learn. The app and website offer a wide range of lessons, allowing you to go back and review topics as needed. While there are other apps like Duolingo, many users appreciate the gamified approach and the way Duolingo makes learning a language easy and enjoyable.

This awesome free app and website is perfect for learning languages, and I recommend Duolingo to beginner to intermediate language learners. The bite-sized lessons make it easier to remember new words and phrases. And guess what? You can even grasp the basic vocabulary and grammar too. However, it's important to remember that Duolingo should be seen as a fun way to practice your target language, rather than relying on it as your sole language learning resource. Also, don't worry about getting the premium version of Duolingo, as the free one works just fine.

So go ahead, give it a shot, and have fun with it, you can find Duolingo on PlayStore, or you can also use the Duolingo desktop-version. As for me, I will be checking out the Duolingo Korean course soon, yes the KDrama got me bad.

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