Here's a fact for you: Duolingo works great!

[Anonymous]

The actual research (not anecdata) shows that it's ok for reading, slightly worse for listening, and pretty useless for actual speaking. OP - have you actually had a conversation with anyone? I'd be surprised if you could actually navigate a real conversation. Sure, you can easily say "I want five apples" and things like that, but most conversations don't consist of that.

It's better than nothing, but it tricks people into thinking they know a lot more than they do, due to the passive nature of the exercises, odds of actually needing to say one of the sentences they drill into you, and the positive feedback and encouragement you get from Duo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The actual research (not anecdata) shows that it's ok for reading, slightly worse for listening, and pretty useless for actual speaking. OP - have you actually had a conversation with anyone? I'd be surprised if you could actually navigate a real conversation. Sure, you can easily say "I want five apples" and things like that, but most conversations don't consist of that.

It's better than nothing, but it tricks people into thinking they know a lot more than they do, due to the passive nature of the exercises, odds of actually needing to say one of the sentences they drill into you, and the positive feedback and encouragement you get from Duo.

Yes, I’ve had conversations. If your understanding is that it drills canned conversation lines into your heard you’re clearly not familiar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The actual research (not anecdata) shows that it's ok for reading, slightly worse for listening, and pretty useless for actual speaking. OP - have you actually had a conversation with anyone? I'd be surprised if you could actually navigate a real conversation. Sure, you can easily say "I want five apples" and things like that, but most conversations don't consist of that.

It's better than nothing, but it tricks people into thinking they know a lot more than they do, due to the passive nature of the exercises, odds of actually needing to say one of the sentences they drill into you, and the positive feedback and encouragement you get from Duo.

Also, if you know much about language learning you know “tricks people into thinking they know more than they do” is one of the most effective tactics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The actual research (not anecdata) shows that it's ok for reading, slightly worse for listening, and pretty useless for actual speaking. OP - have you actually had a conversation with anyone? I'd be surprised if you could actually navigate a real conversation. Sure, you can easily say "I want five apples" and things like that, but most conversations don't consist of that.

It's better than nothing, but it tricks people into thinking they know a lot more than they do, due to the passive nature of the exercises, odds of actually needing to say one of the sentences they drill into you, and the positive feedback and encouragement you get from Duo.

Yes, I’ve had conversations. If your understanding is that it drills canned conversation lines into your heard you’re clearly not familiar.

Actually I am very familiar, I did consulting for Duolingo. I'm sure your conversation partners were very patient and forgiving and the conversations lasted fewer than 5 minutes.

[Anonymous]

I use it to maintain my Japanese level and improve my kanji recognition — it’s pretty meh and I think it would be very hard to learn Japanese from scratch with just the app but I appreciate the structure and variety in the exercises and the fact it really encourages me to do something every day. Having tried to review Korean and learn Mandarin with Duo, I think I can conclude it’s not as good with East Asian languages. Although both of those experiments were like 8 years ago so maybe I should try again.

Recently I’ve also been using it remember the French I learned in middle school which has actually been going pretty well so I appreciate your story OP — I know Romance languages are a strength for duo so hopefully I’ll have as much success as you!

[Anonymous]

Does it have English?

[Anonymous]

I have just been doing about 2 minutes a day. I've been doing it for several months and am about where I was in middle school. Fewer vocabulary words but better grasp of conjugation. I get stuck on the conjugation sometimes and it would be nice to have an actual teacher to explain some of the differences. I'll sometimes Google things to help. But I'm not THAT invested in it and get bored with it quickly. I am ok just having the very basics for now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have just been doing about 2 minutes a day. I've been doing it for several months and am about where I was in middle school. Fewer vocabulary words but better grasp of conjugation. I get stuck on the conjugation sometimes and it would be nice to have an actual teacher to explain some of the differences. I'll sometimes Google things to help. But I'm not THAT invested in it and get bored with it quickly. I am ok just having the very basics for now.

Yeah, a few minutes a day for a few months and it’s as useful as MS English.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have just been doing about 2 minutes a day. I've been doing it for several months and am about where I was in middle school. Fewer vocabulary words but better grasp of conjugation. I get stuck on the conjugation sometimes and it would be nice to have an actual teacher to explain some of the differences. I'll sometimes Google things to help. But I'm not THAT invested in it and get bored with it quickly. I am ok just having the very basics for now.

Yeah, a few minutes a day for a few months and it’s as useful as MS English.

Sorry MS French

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The actual research (not anecdata) shows that it's ok for reading, slightly worse for listening, and pretty useless for actual speaking. OP - have you actually had a conversation with anyone? I'd be surprised if you could actually navigate a real conversation. Sure, you can easily say "I want five apples" and things like that, but most conversations don't consist of that.

It's better than nothing, but it tricks people into thinking they know a lot more than they do, due to the passive nature of the exercises, odds of actually needing to say one of the sentences they drill into you, and the positive feedback and encouragement you get from Duo.

Yes, I’ve had conversations. If your understanding is that it drills canned conversation lines into your heard you’re clearly not familiar.

Actually I am very familiar, I did consulting for Duolingo. I'm sure your conversation partners were very patient and forgiving and the conversations lasted fewer than 5 minutes.

Not sure where you’re going with this - I’m a beginner, so, yes, they were short conversations and my partners were probably very patient. Okay? And…?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does it have English?

Not sure if you're being snarky, but yes... they have a ton of courses in English for native speakers of many languages, eg, learn English from Spanish, learn English from Russian, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The actual research (not anecdata) shows that it's ok for reading, slightly worse for listening, and pretty useless for actual speaking. OP - have you actually had a conversation with anyone? I'd be surprised if you could actually navigate a real conversation. Sure, you can easily say "I want five apples" and things like that, but most conversations don't consist of that.

It's better than nothing, but it tricks people into thinking they know a lot more than they do, due to the passive nature of the exercises, odds of actually needing to say one of the sentences they drill into you, and the positive feedback and encouragement you get from Duo.

Yes, I’ve had conversations. If your understanding is that it drills canned conversation lines into your heard you’re clearly not familiar.

Actually I am very familiar, I did consulting for Duolingo. I'm sure your conversation partners were very patient and forgiving and the conversations lasted fewer than 5 minutes.

Not sure where you’re going with this - I’m a beginner, so, yes, they were short conversations and my partners were probably very patient. Okay? And…?

I'm a beginner as well. PPP, what do you recommend for learning if not duolingo?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The actual research (not anecdata) shows that it's ok for reading, slightly worse for listening, and pretty useless for actual speaking. OP - have you actually had a conversation with anyone? I'd be surprised if you could actually navigate a real conversation. Sure, you can easily say "I want five apples" and things like that, but most conversations don't consist of that.

It's better than nothing, but it tricks people into thinking they know a lot more than they do, due to the passive nature of the exercises, odds of actually needing to say one of the sentences they drill into you, and the positive feedback and encouragement you get from Duo.

Yes, I’ve had conversations. If your understanding is that it drills canned conversation lines into your heard you’re clearly not familiar.

Actually I am very familiar, I did consulting for Duolingo. I'm sure your conversation partners were very patient and forgiving and the conversations lasted fewer than 5 minutes.

Not sure where you’re going with this - I’m a beginner, so, yes, they were short conversations and my partners were probably very patient. Okay? And…?

I'm a beginner as well. PPP, what do you recommend for learning if not duolingo?

DCUM will always suggest immersion. Just drop everything and go to another country for a few months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The actual research (not anecdata) shows that it's ok for reading, slightly worse for listening, and pretty useless for actual speaking. OP - have you actually had a conversation with anyone? I'd be surprised if you could actually navigate a real conversation. Sure, you can easily say "I want five apples" and things like that, but most conversations don't consist of that.

It's better than nothing, but it tricks people into thinking they know a lot more than they do, due to the passive nature of the exercises, odds of actually needing to say one of the sentences they drill into you, and the positive feedback and encouragement you get from Duo.

Yes, I’ve had conversations. If your understanding is that it drills canned conversation lines into your heard you’re clearly not familiar.

Actually I am very familiar, I did consulting for Duolingo. I'm sure your conversation partners were very patient and forgiving and the conversations lasted fewer than 5 minutes.

Not sure where you’re going with this - I’m a beginner, so, yes, they were short conversations and my partners were probably very patient. Okay? And…?

I'm a beginner as well. PPP, what do you recommend for learning if not duolingo?

DCUM will always suggest immersion. Just drop everything and go to another country for a few months.

I mean, yes, I'd love to do that. But my stupid family and stupid boss won't let me. I'd also love to take some serious language learning classes, but while slightly more possible, still logistically is difficult. Duolingo is fun, and whether or know it's the ideal way to develop my conversational skills, I have learned a ton...

I would also point out on the conversational level—understanding is a HUGE thing. If I can understand what THEY are talking about, I can pick and choose my words and respond... and any conversation in another language is more of a conversation than I had before!

[Anonymous]

Duolingo is fine. It make me feel like I was doing well as it repeats the same thing over and over again with few changes.
I speak better than I read and understand which is unusual. This is the reason I liked Duolingo, but got bored at the end.