Oh no, I've finished Duolingo!!

[SnugglyJumpersMakeItBetter]

I've been learning German for 2 years, largely through Duolingo. I've now 'completed' it and am just left revising! Gutted, I thought it would keep teaching me new things indefinitely! I feel a bit like that guy in the crowd of joggers following Forrest Gump who stands there and shouts 'Now what?!' as Forrest walks away.

Even 2 years later I can't actually speak German! I just recognise a bunch of words, but am still very shaky on actually stringing them together for myself. Can anyone recommend an app that's as fun and addictive as Duo but that actually really helps teach you to actively use the language?

Op can I ask, did you subscribe to duolingo? Or just do the free trial?
I'm emming and erring about subscribing but I've read it's really difficult to unsubscribe. Also I want to be able to keep the course which I've paid for, but I'm guessing with subscription, once I stop subscribing I'd lose the content?

I'd love to find an app which has a one off payment. I hate subscription services, they always seem like poor value for the customer.

@veritasverity I haven't found it difficult to subscribe/unsubscribe/resubscribe. I use the app on iphone. I've always kept the same account and progress. I've had an individual subscription before, stopped it but carried on with the free account. Now I've joined a group/family with a shared subscription - we split the cost between us and that's better value if you can do that. We pay annually and then cancel the subscription in the iphone app store account. The subscription continues to run until the paid term runs out, then reverts automatically to the free account. You get alerts when the subscription nearly runs out so you can renew if you want. I prefer doing things this way, as don't like automatically renewing things. Apple app store is good like this - you can do the same with weekly/monthly subscriptions and free trials (set to cancel once free period is up).

The "benefit" of the subscrition model is that duolingo are incentivised to update and add new content to keep subscribers. But it's perfectly possible to use the app with no payment.

I'm not German, but a direct neighbour with related phraseology (we effectively took German language and translated it it Slavic) and the sweeties and darlings sound creepy to us.

(I know this isn't super useful for you, but at least it might make your latest question more visible)

Have just discovered this thread and don't know if you're still looking for resources, but I can recommend Language Transfer - they also have an app. Other poster's rec of DW is a great one, as is HerrProfessor.

Sorry to resurrect 4 months later, but ..

Mein Schatzi! Not native, but from what I recall Schatzi (usually, because it's cuter than Schatz) is not used in that passive aggressive way to a stranger like in the UK. Partners, your own children, friends, family - but people you like and love.

Will be watching the original Sissi films this Christmas, would recommend 😁 (has anyone given the Netflix series a go?) I also listen to Spotify top 10s for countries I'm learning the language of. I'm under the illusion it'll teach me slang 😂

In general with Duolingo, I've found the course quality very varied, and the entry tests inaccurate. Learning Arabic from scratch was good initially, but got repetitive and boring very quickly, not much variation, very much an unfinished course. And then they switched from the tree to the path, and the repetition got even worse 😬 Spanish is a good and varied one, but with a shit entry test (it put me too low). Swedish is too repetitive.

@veritasverity The basic free version of DuoLingo has ads, and you can't progress as quickly. I wouldn't pay straight away for DuoLingo Super. They almost always give you a few days of Super, then give you a few more days when you press 'I don't want to pay'. It's very easy to cancel. They usually do codes for 7-30 days free Super, too. Ask someone here for a referral link and you'll both get a treat.