The consensus is clear: Duolingo is a master of motivation, but not the best for speaking your second language in the real world. The vocabulary for Duolingo helped, but without some self-study, David wouldn’t have been speaking Italian on his trip. In the end, a phrasebook and pocket dictionary made speaking possible. “The app had made me a master of multiple-choice Italian.” When it came time to use it though, he faltered. That addicting quality is thanks to the gamified style of lessons: “Gamification works: the learner feels a sense of achievement when getting the points and challenged when not.” Unlike a school course, Duolingo feels fun and (comparably) easier.ĭavid Freedman for The Atlantic shared the same sentiment.

Personal interest pails in comparison to an upcoming trip at keeping people going. The results are greatly affected by the source of your motivation. Other research shows Duolingo supports conscious learning, but not true competence. In the end, they concluded that Duolingo is comparable to four or five semesters of university language instruction. It’s not surprising that Duolingo would respond as such when asked, so that begs the next question. In two studies funded by the app, they tracked multiple language skills: Listening and Reading. Of course, Duolingo has conducted its own research on this.

Is duolingo actually good