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Duolingo
What Is Duolingo?
Cloud-based learning management system that helps educators provide language training and track student's progress.
Who Uses Duolingo?
Language learning management solution for educational institutions, that helps with creating online classrooms, scheduling assignments, tracking student activities, and more.
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Reviews of Duolingo
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Excellent language learning app
Comments: Duolingo has definitely impacted communications with others who speak different languages. Comprehension of written communication has seen the most positive change, followed by the ability to speak and then listening/understanding verbal communication. I believe this is due to the nuance of individual speakers' accents and phrasing. Overall, the learning attributable to Duolingo is significant.
Pros:
I highly recommend Duolingo. There's a free option available, which includes adds and some limited features, yet the Pro option is excellent. This is definitely a "get out of it what you put in to it" tool, and if utilized regularly, users will learn a language. Lessons focus on "useful" learning i.e. key words and phrases vs. conjugation of verbs and other grammatical elements. Those things are incorporated in to the lessons, yet the user almost doesn't notice because it's so well integrated.
Cons:
The sequencing of some of the lessons seems a bit strange sometimes, as why one topic comes after another and not before can be odd. However, it's minor and perhaps even more of a preference.
Great Language Learning Software, But Riddled with Ads
Comments: I have had a pretty good experience with Duolingo. It is a very effective software for language learning. It is easy to track your learning and the learning style is effective for teaching language content. I was able to apply my learning a lot faster using Duolingo as compared to other language learning software. Duolingo is available via a mobile app so you can take your courses with you anywhere. Courses are also very short so it's very easy to get a few done in a relatively short time, so perfect for learning over lunch breaks or other micro-learning sessions.
Pros:
Duolingo is very easy to use and very effective. It uses immersion learning like Rosetta Stone but it's more guided. It eases you into the language you chose to learn. Gamification is good; it awards you frequently with gems to be used in the app for various perks. I have noticed that I was able to read content in my chosen learned language much faster using Duolingo than compared to Rosetta Stone. It's also very accessible in the form of a mobile app, so if you install it on your phone, it can go with you anywhere which makes learning much more accessible.
Cons:
I don't like how many ads Duolingo makes you watch between lessons. It is distracting to the learning environment. It's not a problem if you subscribe to Duolingo Plus but the free version's ads are very distracting and not conducive to learning. It pushes you toward subscribing even if you don't necessarily want to.
Duolingo ROCKS!
Comments: Overall, I am more than thrilled with this entire program. It's free, it's fun, it's beautifully designed and easy to use. Plus, it has helped my kids work through issues they've had. It saves me from lugging around workbooks and printed sheets, as it's conveniently stored on my phone and their tablets.
Pros:
We LOVE Duolingo. I have 2 children in Kindergarten and Second grade, and we use this app daily to keep current with what they are leaning in English, Math and Spanish. It takes the age of your child and magically figures out what they need to know, what they should be learning and gives them tons of practice lessons to keep their skills fresh. And it's fun! I am not a teacher, so this app takes the guess work out of searching for worksheets online.
Cons:
I have no complaints about anything to do with Duolingo so far. It has provided help when and where we've needed it for each of my kids.
Not geared toward slow language learners
Comments: At first I liked this app. Now I am ready to leave. The more I work, the more I get demoted. I am not being tested or compared to how I have done but by how others do. Not interested in that. Languages are hard for me. By keep making the sentences faster and faster, there is no point in me trying. By hitting the 'slow' button, I hear the individual words - NOT how one word blends into the next. Perhaps there should be three layers as one gets more advanced.
Pros:
Early on, i liked Duolingo a lot. There were others who had questions and there was a peer review from which I learned things. I liked the amount it repeats.
Cons:
The timed practices. That doesn't test my knowledge of the language I am learning, it tests how fast my eyes go from one column to the other column. And then the right column doesn't even have the right words in it at the same time as the left column. Also, the peer review seems to be gone, so when I get something wrong, I don't necessarily know why.
Learning languages with Duolingo
Comments: I have been using Duolingo for many years for different languages. I started with English, then French and now also Italian. I use it mainly as another learning method since I can use it from anywhere at any time. I find it practical and quick to learn.
Pros:
Duolingo is great! I learn English in a fun way. Interactive exercises and short lessons make everyday learning easy. It's engaging, accessible, and a great complement to other learning methods. I recommend it to everyone who wants to learn a new language in an entertaining way.
Cons:
Duolingo is a useful tool for language learners and especially for beginners. Also for those of us looking for an introduction to a new language. But to achieve higher levels it is necessary to complement it with more complete resources, with real life practices.
