Is Duolingo the best way to learn a language fast?

[Davidsdaughter]

Going abroad in 6 weeks - a friend recommended Duolingo to me and I have been using the free version with adverts, and a cut off after you have made a certain number of mistakes in a day.

I am very impressed, and about to pay the full subscription, but before I do, is it really the best? Or is my ignorance of language apps impairing my judgement.

Thank you for any experience and advice

YABU - there is an even better one called....
YANBU - Duolingo is the best!

What language OP?

Pre duolingo and translation apps, I used to buy a berlitz or lonely planet pocket phrase books. I learnt a surprising amount and it was reinforced when in the country and I could hear the words spoken. Nowadays, you can listen to phases on youtube. I'd likely book a few lessons at a local language school, or ask on nextdoor if someone locally can swap language lessons for cooking/English lessons etc.

I did try duolingo years ago. Mainly with languages that I already knew some basics though. I found from scratch it was very difficult. For a holiday, all I want to know are the basic hello, goodbye, thank you, and to order food/drinks. Maybe a few other words like how much, big, large, spicy/not spicy etc. I don't need to know how to say 'where is my purple penguin'!

Another vote for Coffee break... free on spotify , also on youtube.
I'm learning Italian but there are quite a few languages. It's primarily audio so you get to really listen to conversations... very simple to start with, but after a couple of weeks I had enough to get me round Rome, ask for directions (and understand the answer!!) and essentials for hotels , shops etc.
I recently paid for their extra content to reinforce my reading Italian and it's really good.
I also watch things like Bluey and Peppa pig in Italian to see how much I can understand

I find it good fun, and for me it is a way to learn basics vocab and phrases, and the language I'm learning is starting to make sense and not look like a jumble of letters! It doesn't teach you the grammar side at all. If I wanted to learn the language properly I'd probably try and find a more traditionally structured course. But I do enjoy doing it 10 mins a day!

Thanks to the recommendation on here I’ve just started a free trial for Pimsleur.
it’s a bit more like Babbel, more of a serious learning app which you need to sit and concentrate through for at least half an hour at at time. It’s good though if you’re serious!

the glory of Duolingo however is that
a. It’s literally 2 minute lessons so you can do them whenever, wherever and either one or a few in a row.
b. It’s the only one out there I think where you can learn more than one language at a time. I have five language accounts currently
c. The “gamification”, competition against other users etc, frankly makes it very addictive

@Davidsdaughter
pimsleur has a free trial. Worth a look.
not “gamey” at all though.

This has been such a useful thread. Going to check out some of the other apps mentioned. I do find the gamification of Duolingo really good to keep me checking in on a daily basis otherwise my good intentions of YouTube tutorials & French radio go by the wayside.

@rosemarypetticoat Yes, today I did my daily Duolingo practice while my hair dye was processing. 🤣

I like it because it's easy and there's a fun incentive to do a daily lesson. So even if it is just 3-5 mins a day you want to do it because it takes no time.

Tip: if you create a "classroom" and add yourself in it as the only student it gives you unlimited hearts I think. Also if you sign up as a child age then you don't get ads AFAIK. I remember because I did this ages ago but can't remember how to do it! But it is worth it.

If you're on o2, there's a three month free trial of Duolingo on Priority.

I've been doing a course for two weeks. It's ok but I'm learning to describe my family at the moment. I'd much rather learn to order from a menu as I'm more likely to do that on holiday than go around telling people my mother is nice.

I don't want to bang on boring people who want to learn another language but nobody has referenced Language Transfer apart from me. If you have had any exposure to Latin at all, then it is a very quick step to understanding and speaking Spanish. No view at all on learning Spanish from eg German mother tongue, but blissfully clear on how to transfer 3000 useful standard Latin words into a rudimentary vocabulary. With just enough verb use to get by.

I've tried several of the apps named, and I've tried Pimsleur too, and while it does seem very good, the content of the first free lesson is very similar to other apps I have tried today - except I dont think it is right. Only from having listened to other apps with the same content today. Then I played it into google translate, which agreed with me. I've only learnt about 10 words, but this app has some of them switched around.

It seems very strange. obviously, I could be wrong but then google translate is wrong too

@Davidsdaughter
oh that’s interesting

it’s a weird one because you have to listen to the actual lessons without seeing the language, which I guess could suit some people but I prefer the visual approach of Duolingo I think. And although there are some “games” they’re a bit naff really. And if it is actually wrong that’s bad. I’m doing Danish, so have no idea 🤷🏻‍♀️

What language are you learning OP?

Italian

I'm using Duolingo for Spanish and finding it useful although my reading and writing are way better than my speaking and listening.

I'm starting to look away from the phone if there is audio and text, to try to get my ear more tuned in.

I want it for Costa Rica so Latin American Spanish is fine for me (although it uses the informal 2nd person 'tu' a lot which isn't used in CR).

I don't spend enough time on it but can say the kind of basic sentences that are useful on holiday. But 6 weeks on Duolingo wouldn't have been enough time to for me to have learned enough Spanish for it to have been any use.

This isn't right, is it?
__

@Davidsdaughter

its fine I think, lei usually means “she” but can also mean a formal version of “you” so it could be a polite version yes.

No idea if an actual Italian person would say that though.

remember all Romance languages have at least two different words for “you”, a polite and familiar form

really? what is voi then? I've only done a day! I'm confused already 😅thank you for explaining

A quick google says (I’m not an Italian speaker) that voi is very old fashioned and rarely used(though correct) except apparently in parts of the far south of Italy. It has been largely replaced by lei.
But tu is the most common form of “you” (informal though)

well thank you - that is a relief, because that is the app I want, but I was worried it had mistakes in. Thank you for helping me with that

Ps this is where all the apps fall short. Obviously you need an actual native speaker to explain all this!!!!

my main gripe with duolingo is you get no explanations at all, ever!

@StillWantingADog you do if you pay for the upgrade 😄

@EhrlicheFrau whats the much better app you’re using now? 😊

Not on the Dutch one!

I tried it with Italian and found if very slow and boring. I'm a bit spoilt though as someone who studied languages at uni and went to live abroad. So I'd actually recommend a proper old-fashioned language class at your local college, ideally taught by a native speaker. Or you could see if you can find one online. They're more expensive but also more fun and engaging IMO. Once you've reached a reasonable level you could start watching movies and reading the news in that language. You could also look for a local meet-up group to practice your listening and conversational skills.