Is DuoLingo Worth It?

Encompassing instruction in over thirty languages, including both popular ones, such as Spanish and German, and culturally-specific ones such as Gaelic, Navajo, and Hawaiian, DuoLingo is one of the most well-known foreign language apps currently being used all over the world.  At only $120 / year for a family membership, the Super DuoLingo subscription offers up even more options for language learners, but is it worth it?

The first things users will notice upon logging into the app is how engaging and user-friendly it is.  Designed like a video game, and pulling heavily from behavior theory, the app can be addictive and make even the most reluctant language learner want to play.  Users race against the clock, earn points for correct answers, score bonus rounds, compete with other users, and even team up with other users to tackle larger challenges.  All of this can be very appealing, getting just about anyone to commit to learning a language even if they find it very difficult.  

It's worth noting that with the free version of the app, users are only allowed to make five mistakes (in a period of about four hours) before they cannot progress.  The game will shut down if they make any more than that, so there is a lot of incentive to purchase the 'super' version, which provides unlimited mistakes.  Given that we often learn the most from our mistakes, this is one point in favor of the paid version.

To best learn and retain new language skills, it's best to try and learn a little bit everyday rather than doing long lessons every once in a while.  Duolingo offers bite-sized lessons so that you can learn in as little as two minutes a day....or spend an hour or more learning if you have the free time.  Most learners aim for at least fifteen minutes a day, which can be broken up over several short lessons.  Waiting for a doctor's appointment?  Work on a few lessons!

The lessons circle back, revisiting previous vocabulary and grammar concepts and covering missed questions in each lesson review.  (Each lesson contains between three and five mini-lessons before the review.)  There are approximately twenty lessons in each unit, with a larger unit review before moving forward.  As you go through the review, it's easy to see how much you're learning and retaining.  Additionally, if you need extra explanations of the grammar and how it is used to form sentences, you can click on a link within the lesson for an additional grammar description and practice.

One difficulty with the shorter lessons and mastery cycle is that much of the language is taught in a closed loop - as in it's not part of a conversational mastery, but simply short sentences related to whatever topic that lesson is about.  Learners will be able to speak statements and questions, but that doesn't necessarily translate into conversation.  Think of it as more of a stilted, two-year-old type of conversation...but it's a place to start!

Recently, a new AI feature has been added for Super Duolingo users to practice speaking with a native (albeit artificial) speaker.  This is designed to help learners work on fluency and advancing their conversational skills.

Duolingo alone is probably not going to get a learner to fluency, and would best be coupled with a full-length curriculum or, even better, conversational practice with a native speaker.  However it's a fantastic starting point, provides an opportunity for students to explore a wide variety of languages, and can help foster basic communication among people with conversational barriers.

Two of our other favorite language programs, which Duolingo would definitely augment, are:

• Homeschool Languages
• TalkBox.Mom (foreign language) & TalkBox.Mom