Support your Language Learning with Duolingo!

Overview

In this post, I would like to evaluate the effectiveness of using Duolingo for language learning. To start with, it will be useful to watch this video which introduces Duolingo and its vision:

Duolingo is a programme which is designed for autonomous language learning and practice. To begin with, you should select the language that you would like to learn and your mother tongue (or any other language that you are competent with) in order to learn the target language. The journey begins with identifying your level of competency in the target language either by taking a placement test or by deciding to learn the language from the most basic level. Once your level is set, all you need to do is to start learning the language that you have chosen through various methods, such as translation, imitating sounds, repeating words, etc.

Advantages of using Duolingo

One major challenge that second language learners face is being motivated to practice the language on a daily basis. Language learners usually easily lose motivation even though consistency is key to learning a second language. However, Duolingo helps learners to overcome this problem by making language learning as a game that learners need to play everyday in order to keep their progress. The learners are required to gain a certain number of experience points everyday in order to keep developing their skills. Moreover, while learning the language and achieving more points, learners earn 'Lingots' or 'coins' that can be used to buy services which enhance the learning experience and make it more attractive. For example, they can buy a day of break without affecting their progress or a test which assesses their current level. In addition, Duolingo increases learners' motivation through allowing them to connect with their friends in order to track each other's progress. In this way the sense of competition between friends makes users motivated to achieve higher levels, and by achieving a higher level, students achieve more learning. 

Language is presented in a very neat way, which enables learners to be fully aware of the level of language learning that they have achieved. Moreover, throughout the learning process, Duolingo gives the learners the chance to produce the language instead of being passive recipients. As a result, the students are more likely to remember what they have learned. 

In addition to all of that, Duolingo is totally free of charge. While using it, learners will not be distracted by any screens asking them to subscribe or to check any advertisements.

Suitability for Palestinian Language Learners

I have heard that recently 3G has become available for everyone in Palestine, which means that Palestinian students as well as employees are able to use the commuting hours to learn and practice a second language that they aspire to learn. Furthermore, many students decide to take language courses in order to develop their skills; however, very few get the chance to practice the language outside the classroom. Duolingo is best used to support language learners; it might not be ideal to be the only source of language development, but it is definitely fantastic when learners use it to support language learning. I remember when I was doing a course in French, Duolingo helped me to remain on track with the course, and I even was always prepared for the following classes and for exams.

Moreover, many Palestinians aspire to learn Hebrew, since Hebrew is sisters with Arabic and it is spoken as a second language in Palestine. With Duolingo, many Palestinians will be able to learn Hebrew.

Any Limitations?

Despite all the advantages of Duolingo, it does not offer learners the chance to authentically develop communicative language skills, for it focuses on learning phonetic, lexical and syntactic structures with an emphasis on translation between the two languages, while authentic communicative situations are limited. In pedagogical terms, Duolingo seems to be following a behaviourist approach to language learning and teaching since it depends mainly on drilling, i.e. repetition, and translation. This is not to say that this is completely a shortcoming of Duolingo, for learners need more support to learn and produce accurate language structures. However, authentic communicative practice is also crucially important for developing language competence.