How Effective Is Duolingo In Learning A Language?
What Is Duolingo?
Duolingo is a language-learning platform and takes the prize for the most downloaded education app in the world, with more than 500 million users. The app focuses on four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Users learn through fun bite-sized pieces that are immersive and easy to follow. The app uses game-style tools that vary according to age and abilities. Beginners can start with the basic lessons, while others with more knowledge can take a placement test.
Duolingo is all about positive reinforcement. The app is all about making learning a language fun. You can create your own avatar character and earn rewards by playing games. The more days you spend playing, the more points you earn. You will immediately be shown the correct answer when you make a mistake.
Duolingo was designed by language experts and is a science-based teaching methodology for long-term language retention. With more than 1.6 million ratings and an average of 4.7 stars, the Duolingo app does what it promised.
Is Duolingo Free?
Duolingo started out as a free app. In fact, one of its main selling points was that it was a high-caliber app on par with other paid apps. Duolingo committed to never switch to a payment-only app, and it kept its word. The app includes support ads and offers a paid membership called Duolingo Plus. The membership costs $12.99 a month or $83.88 if you pay for a year in advance. You can also choose between family plans for six users that cost $9.99 a month or $119.99 a year. Duolingo Plus is ad-free and allows limitless use of the app. The free version stops you from playing for a while if you get too many wrong answers. There are also unlimited levels, quizzes, and tests in the premium version.
Which Languages Can I Learn With Duolingo?
Duolingo offers 36 languages for English speakers. These are Arabic, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Esperanto, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hawaiian, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian (in beta), Indonesian, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Navajo (in beta), Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Romanian, Russian, Scottish Gaelic, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, Welsh, and Yiddish (in beta).
The app also caters to those diehard Star Trek fans and offers two fictional languages: High Valyrian and Klingon.
Duolingo also offers to teach English to speakers of many languages: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian (Bahasa), Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.
Can I Really Learn A Language From Scratch With Duolingo?
Duolingo is an excellent app because you use your native language to learn the foreign language by reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The app's premium version even includes teacher-level controls for specific goals such as words, grammar, or skills. However, you need more than just Duolingo to learn a language from scratch. When it comes to language learning, the best way to discover it is through an immersive experience. Duolingo helps with language basics but not with fluency. You will benefit more from the app when combining it with actual speaking practice and human interaction. So, for example, if you are taking language lessons in French, Duolingo can guide you when it comes to grammar and vocabulary. However, the speaking element is missing. Pairing it with other resources transforms it into a fantastic tool.
Top Accessories To Use With Duolingo
1. Headphones
A good pair of headphones can give you an immersive experience when using the app. Certain levels require you to carefully listen to the pronunciation before repeating the word. In addition, headphones will help block out any external distractions, leaving you to focus entirely on learning. Bluetooth headphones also give you the freedom to turn to the app wherever you are. Whether traveling, sitting in a coffee shop, or taking a short break at work, you can continue brushing up your language skills.
2. Apple Pencil
If you own an Apple Pencil, put it to good use with Duolingo. The Apple Pencil is a great tool to use with the app, thanks to its pixel-perfect precision and almost imperceptible lag. You can use it to select words or work on the exercises. You can also use the Apple Pencil to write in different languages. The popular stylus pen also has palm rejection technology. This means that you will only do what you were writing when resting your palm on the screen.
3. iPad Case
Comfort and safety are the two most essential components of an iPad case. You want your iPad to sit correctly on any surface, including your lap, when learning through Duolingo. The Zugu iPad 10.2 case ticks all the right boxes. Made out of solid TPU plastic, the Zugu iPad cover protects from a five-foot drop in concrete. In addition, the backflips into a kickstand with eight adjustable angles. Whichever angle you choose, your iPad will not budge thanks to powerful magnets fitted in each slot. The Zugu iPad cover also includes inbuilt air vents to help keep your device cool, allowing you to use Duolingo without overheating.