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Original poster

i don't understand duolingo

54 replies

badger2005 · 12/03/2022 14:54

sorry about no caps - am recovering from arm op! i thought i'd use the time to brush up my ancient gcse french by using duolingo. but i'm a bit confused. i did a test, and now i'm doing lots of lesson things. do i do a topic till i get a crown with a '1' in it and then move onto the next topic? or should i keep going on the same topics to get more crowns for them? i'm enjoying it but i just don't really get the structure...
any advice gratefully received!

OP posts:
Wherethefuckdidtheraincomefrom · 12/03/2022 15:04

I've been learning on duolingo for a couple of months now. The structure does take some getting used to. Once you get to the end of a 'topic' it will give you the opportunity to practice 4 separate 'harder' levels in which you only have 3 lives (even if you've paid for premium) Once you reach the end of these 4 levels then you earn 'the crown' the more crowns you earn the more levels you unlock. I read an article about how it isn't the greatest app to learn on as you don't learn conversational skills and I'm finding some of it is repetitive which is good for me as that is how I learn but I appreciate not everyone learns that way! Good luck!

thecatneuterer · 12/03/2022 15:07

Do whatever you want. You can pop around from topic to topic just doing one lesson in each if the mood takes you. Or stick with one topic until you finish it and then move on to the next. I think if you are completely new to a language then it makes sense to stick to one topic and complete it before moving to the next. However if you're refreshing then I think it's more fun to jump around. I also use 'test out' option quite often when I feel things are too basic.

Burnername101 · 12/03/2022 15:07

I revived a language I did at school, and have just started a new one.

The correct answer to your question is… there is no correct answer.

Dip in and out as you please.. I’ve just done a couple of,hours in my newest language. I popped in and out of some alphabet specific stuff, then started a new set of lessons on phrases. When I’ve sorted the washing, I’ll probably do a couple of stories in the other language.

That’s the best bit about it, do what takes your fancy

(Ps can I also point you to www.youtube.com/c/EasyFrench
I LOVE these videos)

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General education
Burnername101 · 12/03/2022 15:13

where if you use the web version not the app, there are no lives, and you can fuck up,as,much as you like.

Duo does come in for criticism, yes, you won’t learn to converse with duo alone. It really isnt perfect, but it is the best free way to start or revive a language.

I moved from duo to some of the easy language videos to kids tv programs. And learned enough to pass an A2 / wing a B1 test. And used the language in the wild.. as it were. Im told by a teacher of the language I do have a slight accent, but am perfectly intelligible.

BogRollBOGOF · 12/03/2022 15:16

I hop around topics, but I'm more reviving old French/ German/ Spanish from school/ uni rather than learning.

I started using it years ago (about 2015) and did complete at least stage 1 of the French programme but it's updated and expanded since so units I've completed are all over the place.

Original poster
badger2005 · 12/03/2022 16:54

ok brilliant thank you. it sounds like i'm not seeing any structure because there is just lots of freedom to do what you want. i will just keep going then!
thank you too burnername for the links to the videos. btw has anyone tried having mumsnet chats in other languages for practice? i'm so rubbish i'm embarrassed to start, mais si vous voulez parler en francais, dites mois s'il vous plait!

OP posts:
Abra1d1 · 12/03/2022 16:57

I enjoy Duolingo but they sometimes seem to get fixated on vocabulary that mightn't feature much in everyday conversation. I wanted to learn some Italian for a short holiday there last week. I spent a lot of time on whales and dolphins.

LER83 · 12/03/2022 17:37

I tend to stay on one topic until I've completely finished it, then move onto the next. Apart from one topic that I just cannot get the hang of so I'm leaving that one for a while! I'm learning Japenese from scratch, which was going well, but now I've gone onto unit 2 I'm finding it really difficult!

Summersdreaming · 12/03/2022 17:59

I'm doing Spanish and I'm sick of Juan and his obsession with apples @Abra1d1 Grin

Abra1d1 · 12/03/2022 18:04

Yes, apples feature in Italian, too!

Vastra · 12/03/2022 18:09

In Welsh we have Owen who is obsessed with parsnips! My favourite sentence to date is ‘Owen’s nightclub sells parsnips’.

HighburyHope · 12/03/2022 18:14

@Abra1d1

I enjoy Duolingo but they sometimes seem to get fixated on vocabulary that mightn't feature much in everyday conversation. I wanted to learn some Italian for a short holiday there last week. I spent a lot of time on whales and dolphins.
Similarly, I can tell you quite a bit about turtles, wolves and chickens in both Dutch and Danish.

Italian has been more down to earth for me. Food, drink, clothing and household items. I’m well-equipped to dine and shop in Italy, if nothing else.

Joolsin · 12/03/2022 18:18

I love Duolingo, have been learning Italian for nearly a year. I like the repetition and I've really grasped quite a lot of the grammar, which had got right over my head when I tried evening classes several years ago. I go topic by topic, methodoically completing all the lessons in each one before I move on the next, then gradually building up to purple as I get enough gems (although I check my answers with googltranslate for the purple tests as I don't want to waste that many gems by getting it wrong).

Abra1d1 · 12/03/2022 19:38

HighburyHope

Wolves are always useful!

thecatneuterer · 12/03/2022 19:55

The Dutch one is obsessed with turtles
The German one with sparkling apple juice and artists.
Also doing the French and Spanish, but hadn't noticed Juan and his apples.

bobthebuilderofstars · 12/03/2022 19:56

If you want to get keen then take a look at the leagues and try to move up. And keep your streak up.

herecomesthsun · 12/03/2022 20:01

I started doing Welsh in lockdown. Just started learning Ukrainian. Borscht is I think going to feature quite bit. I haven't yet got to "Russian warship, go fuck yourself"

PancakeBae · 12/03/2022 20:01

Scots Gaelic Calum is snog (nice) but only seems to offer guga (salted gannet) and Irn Bru (Irn Bru) so I don't think we'll be taking it to a second date.

WorkingOnMyNightCheese · 12/03/2022 20:11

@Abra1d1

I enjoy Duolingo but they sometimes seem to get fixated on vocabulary that mightn't feature much in everyday conversation. I wanted to learn some Italian for a short holiday there last week. I spent a lot of time on whales and dolphins.
I'm doing Russian and there's a lot of stuff about snakes Confused I can confidently say "This is not my snake" in Russian, so that'll be handy, I'm sure.

I read somewhere that they do this because it makes it more memorable, or something. IDK if that's true

AuntFlorence · 12/03/2022 20:29

Juan come mucho manzanas
But I still enjoy it

I alternate between consolidating and moving forwards. It does seem to be sticking with me. I've been doing anything from 5-50 minutes a day for 2 years now.

Vastra · 12/03/2022 20:31

I’m weirdly happy to know that other duo languages also have their own obsessions. Noswaith da to @herecomesthsun. As for my approach, I change week on week, sometimes I focus on opening new levels, other times I work on levelling up prior levels. I try to keep a few medallions at the last before 20 points in the hope of getting a 15 minute bonus box.

Fordian · 12/03/2022 20:43

How prescient (for me). I'm doing German. I'm a bit 'odd' in that I know a lot of German words, but I'm shit at German, in as much as I should like an under-educated peasant when I speak it, having gleaned all I know from 8 months in Bavaria aged 17/18 in 1977... 😂

Youngest might be about to do a semester in Uni there, so thought I'd get a bit more on top of it... (I'm 59).

But, Duolingo 🤔 Exercise after exercise of (English translation) 'Where are you from?'; 'Is Canada big?'.... then 'test yourself' Yes! - I said- (in German)'Did you take your children to the park or were you too late?'

... But I'm 'advancing' because I can piece together that sentence. But how could you possibly translate that if your previous experience was 'Where are you from?'.

Abra1d1 · 12/03/2022 20:48

WorkingOnMyNightCheese
Russian snakes seem of the moment somehow!

WorkingOnMyNightCheese · 12/03/2022 20:59

@Abra1d1

WorkingOnMyNightCheese Russian snakes seem of the moment somehow!
I know! A fair bit of wolf and bear-related phrases too. It's a lovely language, though. I've been doing it for over a year, but normally only do the bare minimum to keep my streak going (and use streak freezes quite liberally) Blush so I'm not very proficient yet.
IjustbelieveinMe · 12/03/2022 21:02

I was using this to refresh my mandarin and am now intrigued to go back and see whether snakes or wolves are featured as I didn't notice that during lockdown when I was using this.