Blog

Is Duolingo app any good for learning languages?

Next time you look for a pastime or distraction, try Duolingo instead of your go-to e-games. Duolingo is a gamified language learning app. The first lessons are commitment-free. You don’t even need to create a profile to test the app. But you will be prompted to create a profile if you decide to continue unlocking rewards, which you will be tempted to. Once you start you’d like to follow the weekly gameplan. The app is free and catchy. You pay by subjecting yourself to advertising, surveys, and the like. Is Duolingo app any good for languages?

We tried our hand at a couple of the languages on offer. Duolingo first did a brief one or two-question assessment of our skill level and dedication to learning. It then suggested a starting level. We started at beginner for the Japanese, German and Latin languages. The mascot will cheer you on and you will earn gems (stored inside mysterious chests which you’ll need to unlock).

The lessons are broken down into bite-sized tasks. Each focuses on simple single concepts or phrases, like “Tee oder Kaffee?” in German, for example. Most tasks are easy to follow and the tininess of the task is encouraging and makes it easy to win rewards and to be pulled into the game. Duolingo will help you unlock game levels sooner than you think. The audio component eases you into learning the pronunciation.

A quick preview of the gameplan lined up by Duolingo for our beginner Japanese was as follows: it began with getting started, then learning to introduce yourself, then moving on with learning how to order food, next moving on to learning how to give directions, and so on. The miniature size of the tasks makes it easy to master the tasks fast and move along in your learning.

This app is fun to use and convenient during a commute. If you’re bored on a bus or a train what could be more fun and convenient? If you enjoy playful learning, then go gamified edutainment. We suspect it may also be practical once you’re abroad and actually trying to put your learning into practice because the app is just one click away. Some of those polled by our site reported the app demands too much time.

We didn’t try to advance to higher levels while testing the app, so can’t say how helpful the app is if your skill level is quite advanced. Although, many universities now accept Duolingo English language scores as proof of English language competence. Might be more fun if the schools listed the number of rewards earned instead (5k gems = perfect English, for example).

Alter Ego method is a combination of books, audio and workbooks for learning French as a foreign language. This method comprises 5 levels and is designed for 15-year-olds+ and for adult language education. Many Alliance Française schools have used this method in their language education programs for years. What the advantages and disadvantages of using Alter Ego? Is Alter Ego worth it for learning French?

If you are a complete beginner in the French language, or if you know a few basics to help you get around: This is not a D.I.Y. method for complete beginners, and this could be seen as a disadvantage if you prefer self-learning. This is because if you know your learning pace and you have a final goal for your learning, this method won’t provide the flexibility to take you there on your own. The reason for this is that the success or failure of using this method depends on going through the full curriculum and through the 5 levels that Alter Ego offers.

However, if you already have some independent French language skills and you can navigate a French language environment with relative ease: You can peruse this method as a solo learner and Alter Ego could be worth it, but only if you use it for targeted learning. For example, it’s ok to use it with some success if you know where in the Alter Ego learning materials to look. Even if your knowledge of the language is barely intermediate, it is possible to still adapt some of the Alter Ego resources for your purposes, but with some limitations. So, if you are looking to improve your grammar skills, and you know exactly what you’d need to work on, then you could in theory use the Alter Ego package for self-learning in this targeted way.

The problem with using Alter Ego in a self-taught manner is deciding what criteria to use to decide its use to you? You need to get very clear about what you would like to learn and your learning timetable.

If, on the other hand, you are using Alter Ego as part of the full 5-level curriculum that it was designed for, you can assess its use to you and if you’re successful with it by referring to evaluation criteria such as:

1. Is it Fun?

Do you enjoy learning in a classroom environment with an instructor? Is the content fun or is it elaborating a grammar point in an otherwise boring or cumbersome delivery? Alter Ego is more fun than not (although its delivery is far from a game app like Duolingo).

• Speed & Pace:

Does Alter Ego align with your learning pace? Does it work for your schedule (keep in mind classes might take place on weekends or on evenings after work hours) or your timetable? This will vary for each person.

• Cost & Access:

Alter Ego is one of the more expensive methods for learning French as a foreign language. Keep in mind that you’d need to buy the Book + Workbook package at each of the 5 levels in order to get the best out of this method. If you are attending classes with an instructor it is even pricier. Furthermore, you would need to adapt your availability. It is a big commitment.

• Is it comprehensive?

Alter Ego is geared towards DELF competency. If you manage to complete all 5 levels (which few can given the commitment) the future looks good for your French.

• Is it flexible?
  
  It is not very flexible, because it requires you complete all 5 levels to get to the DELF, and to the results that this method promises.

If you’re going it alone, use your own evaluation criteria. Bonne chance!

We picked up a copy of the Pimsleur CD for basic Italian from the library. Searching the library catalog online is not as much fun as going through packed physical shelves. But it’s convenient. Your public library’s online catalog search function doesn’t quite work like online search engines, but it’s getting closer to that model (more on this another time). The Pimsleur is a very well-known language learning method and comes highly recommended on the web. Does the Pimsleur method live up to its hype?

The Good: 

Much like the Berlitz, the Pimsleur method for learning languages has been circulating for years and years.  You’re bound to easily find a copy of it either in one of the dinosaur media formats or in anything else. Therefore, it is very accessible. It is also free to use from your local public library. The Pimsleur doesn’t require too much effort to follow. The words are often broken down into syllables. Next time you listen to the basic Italian audio recording, notice how breaking words down into syllables makes it easy to remember the words. You can almost feel the texture of the words and the music in the sentences as you listen. You are more likely to remember what you’re learning through this method because it won’t throw so much at you in one go. Unlike the Berlitz. 

The Medium:

The conversation topics featured in the Pimsleur contents are typically very neutral. There is not much exciting going on there. However, the topics are easy enough to follow. These also make it easy enough for you the learner to imagine yourself as part of the scenarios described ( be warned that some topics might be somewhat dated though; just use your own best discerning judgement). 

The Bad:

If you go with the Pimsleur you will move along at a snail’s pace. You will need to dedicate significant time to learn with this method. You will advance but you won’t be fluent overnight. Surely your next month’s trip to Venice won’t benefit much from your binge-learning this month because it is a much slower-moving method. So, does Pimsleur live up to its hype? Well, be prepared to plan in advance. Better still, try to project-manage your learning, and look far into the future for best results.

Lastly, your learning style might differ, so keep an open mind to find out what works best for you. Whether you’re perusing Pimsleur or another method, language education is a conversation between you and your method of choice.