[EDIT] As Duolingo has dramatically changed in the last so many months, some of this post no longer applies. I am leaving it up, though, for inspiration and ideas.

For some time now, I’ve advocated for a more holistic approach at language learning, one where you learn from a variety of sources in a variety of ways. This typically includes having a language book or class to teach grammatical concepts or provide explanations, while also incorporating reading/writing/listening/speaking through things like reading local news websites or watching TV in the target language, for example. These approaches typically work best since you avoid the “textbook language” dilemma (where anything outside of the standard language you learned in class is unintelligible to you, or you speak in a very robotic/scrapbook way using bits and pieces rather than “chunking”) and potential illiteracy (where you can speak and get your point across– a form of fluency!– but do not use proper grammar or are unable to read/write). We will all come across these moments in our language journey, especially if this is your first time learning a language or if you are learning one with practically no mutual intelligibility, but the goal is to minimize this before mistakes crystallize or, simply put, we waste our precious time.

Finding these different types of source material for language learning that we both enjoy and trust can sometimes be difficult and even expensive, so when there are free (or free with an asterisk) options, it is worth looking into. The latest and arguably most popular one to come about is Duolingo, a game-like app/website with some SRS (spaced repetition system) aspects built in. With a resource like Duolingo, we must realize it is just that– a resource. It is not going to be the end-all-be-all in your learning, but when using it right we can maximize what we get out of it.

The clearest benefits of Duolingo are its cost (free), the high variety of language options (except still no Lithuanian…), options for language learners of various levels, the SRS algorithm, incessant reminder notifications (never again will you “forget” to study), additional study options/tips for select languages, and the “fun” or game-like appearance that makes it less intimidating and more casual. In contrast, its major flaws include often nonsense sentences/rarely-used words, an expectation for the learner to pick up on patterns themselves, awful alphabet lessons for non-Latin script writing systems, halting progress with an accuracy > fluency algorithm, little to no conversation practice, and more of a goal being placed on advancing in the “game” rather than language acquisition. As you can probably tell by now, becoming “fluent” in a language would be near impossible by solely using Duolingo, and I’m not the only one to feel this way. I have seen quite a few news websites and internet-polyglots harshly criticize the platform for being unrealistic or useless, and the platform itself says it can only get to you to max B2 level which is a bit of a reach. I have been on Duolingo since 2016 according to my current account (I had one before that briefly, too) and have seen it grow and change, so while I do see many of its flaws, I still believe there is use for it when you use it properly. So, let’s get into that: how to approach Duolingo?

First things first, the way you approach it will be different if you already have a basis in a language. If you do, Duolingo works as a great way to just practice vocab and get exposure regularly in a quick way. I can speak Spanish at a B2/C1 level, but I still use it to just keep the vocab on my mind so I can recall it quicker when I need. Not to mention, every once in a while they’ll use a word I forgot about. To test out of basic skills, just choose to take a placement test after you choose your language. This will let you skip a large number of lessons, albeit, even if you get every question right, it does not open up the entire “tree”, or series of lessons, just part of it. That can be a bit frustrating, but it is still better than starting from scratch.

If you are a beginner or low intermediate in the language, this is where your approach is crucial and you have a few options. Duolingo can be a great way to begin a self-study journey, especially if you are feeling unsure if you will continue learning. Starting with a few lessons a day while taking note of patterns/vocab/pronunciation can get you started, especially with less intuitive languages. Once you reach a point where you have completed a few checkpoints and feel like you understand the basics, the transition to using a textbook and native content will be a lot smoother. You should continue using Duolingo at this point, but essentially mix it into your studies as you feel comfortable. I am currently doing this with Arabic, and it is working well. I had previously learned and forgotten the alphabet, so I have been using Duolingo to restart my reading as well as teach me simple words. I recently started going through a simple book (DK’s 15-Minute Arabic) to get a more complete look at vocabulary and notes on language, and it was not nearly as overwhelming as it was last time I tried to jump in. I have also been listening to music, but I will not begin dissecting native content until I have a solid lexical basis and read/write well enough. I expect this to take some time, and that’s okay! The pro of this, though, is that if I really wasn’t feeling good about my learning, I could have stopped after a bit of Duolingo and moved on to something else, no penalty.

Finally, regardless of your approach, make sure your focus is learning and understanding the language! It is SO easy to start treating it like a game or chore and forget what you’re actually doing things for. Making sure you are really thinking about what you’re clicking, and answering without “cheating” is what will benefit you most. How you structure yourself will depend on a lot of factors, but I’d argue to give Duolingo a go either as a starting or supplementary resource in your language journey. Plus, if you’re like me and can’t decide what language you want to dedicate yourself you, you can spend a month trying different courses on Duo and see which resonated with you most.

Happy reading,
-Beppa