Learning a language with Duolingo is no easier than other methods, but more fun. We explain how this app works and what the other options are.
Learn a language with Duolingo
Are you going to a country where you don’t speak the language yet this summer, or do you want to expand your vocabulary for some other reason? Then you have come to the right place with the Duolingo app. This app lets you learn a language in a playful way, by dividing the lessons into small manageable pieces and giving you experience points.
This does not alter the fact that you still have to do your best and really work. In this article we explain how you can learn a new language with this app, but also what the other options are.
Choose your language
When using the app there are three tabs: Learn, Clubs and Shop. Learn is of course the most important, because here you learn new languages. By tapping on the plus icon in this tab at the top of the bar and then on the plus icon, you select a new language. The app gives you plenty of room to learn multiple languages ​​at the same time, but then you make it much more difficult for yourself.
If you are learning a new language from Dutch, there is unfortunately not much choice. If you click on the screen for choosing a new language, namely ‘For Dutch Speakers’, then English is the only option. However, if English is not a problem, a whole new world will open up for you. The heading ‘For English Speakers’ contains languages ​​such as Spanish, French and German, but also Japanese, Swedish, Russian, Hebrew and more. In total, more than twenty languages ​​can be learned from English.
If you start a new language, you do not indicate whether you are a novice speaker. If you already know quite a few words, you can take a test so that the app knows what level you are. This way you avoid unnecessary lessons.
Start your lessons
The screen of each language consists of different dots with subjects, for example ‘Food’ or ‘Time’. Each topic has multiple lessons. Tap a bubble to start a lesson on that topic. Classes usually take a few minutes, so they are easy to do in between. If you complete all lessons for a topic, you have mastered that topic and you can continue.
However, this is not the end of it. Duolingo is well aware that language learning works especially well when you repeat. So you have to keep track of the lessons you have completed before. Under each lesson there is therefore a life bar that slowly collapses. By practicing, you ensure that this bar remains full and that you remember the lessons well. You can practice by tapping on the specific lesson or on ‘Practice’ at the top right.
The lessons are divided into different segments, but they are immediately clear when you see them. Sometimes you need to translate a sentence by choosing from a number of available words and arranging them. Other times you just have to type the translation. If you do a language that does not consist of Latin script, you also have to combine signs and sounds.
Push on
Important when learning a language, and that is also the case with Duolingo, is that you keep going. This means that you have to open the app every day to do some lessons. Skipping a day is okay, but if you leave it longer, the knowledge you have gained will disappear again. It is not for nothing that jokes are regularly made about how Duolingo is the ultimate app to see that you have no perseverance.
In the second tab, Clubs, you join a language club. In this club you sit with others who learn the same language and you encourage each other. In the top left of this tab, tap ‘profile’ to find your profile. Here you will find not only the settings, but also a general leaderboard for friends you have added. By tapping ‘Add’ next to this leaderboard, you can add new friends via Facebook, email or their username.
The third tab is for the shop. In this shop you spend both real money and Lingots that you have earned by learning languages. With real money you buy away advertisements in the app. You see these small advertisements after every lesson, but hardly disturb. With your earned coins, Lingots, you buy new packs for the Duolingo Owl or the ability to recover a streak you’ve lost.
→ Download Duolingo from the App Store (free)