4 ms·

Could you please recommend an alternative to Duolingo?

michalu 7y ago
Memrise is better as its more structured. But it's only as a supplement. Duolingo is also a good supplement, not the primary tool. Best to take some class and drill textbooks with fill-in exercises. Then books with short texts on different topics - highlight words, memorize. Then find ways to practice in real life. Yes people say they used Duolingo to being close to fluent, most people who speak very bad grammar and mix tenses but people don't correct them mush as they get the point. So most are unaware. I speak it from first hand experience knowing about 10 people like that.
- dominotw 7y ago
  > Best to take some class and drill textbooks with fill-in exercises. I disagree with your analysis. Most people aren't trying to be speaking super gramatically correct sentences. Most are learning to speak passable sentences. Most important thing while learning a language is to have fun, so you can keep coming back to it. Duolingo makes it fun and interactive. Doing endless grammer textbook excerises /drills takes enormous will power that casual learners don't have.
  - michalu 7y ago
    That was exactly my point. And Duolingo is the perfect tool for such people ... for those who want to master the language and have the will Duolingo will slow you down. Also a lot of people speak here from English native point of view ... yeah it doesn't matter you don't speak proper grammar when in Spain once in a while or while nomading. It does matter when you're foreigner and want to build a career or be successful in business/society in the said country.
andrewzah 7y ago
Glossika (basically a modern pimsleur) is the best app that I've found for practicing a language. If you actually want to learn a language? - find one or three good textbooks and follow them completely with exercises - find a language exchange, but it won't be helpful for speaking until you know 200-300 words and can speak a little. exchanges can be good for making friends, though. they're great for getting feedback on your pronunciation, speaking, etc, but always take things with a grain of salt. native speakers are not always good teachers. - find graded readers or native content that is catered to early, medium, advanced levels, etc. immersion is really important - use Anki for spaced repetition, to memorize vocabulary (that you found from native content like tv shows / books / etc) - make friends thru language exchanges or apps like Hello Talk / Tandem - in general try to get as much input and output as possible. people usually neglect speaking and listening. - finding a weekly tutor can help you iron out personal issues, particularly with pronunciation Doing an app for a few mins a day is never going to teach you a language to a "fluent" degree, despite what marketing they have. Learning a language requires serious study and practice- speaking (and writing, etc) are muscles that you have to train over time by interacting with real people. I don't consider making a few contrived sentences like "my name is X, i do y for a living, where is the bathroom" to be fluent. Not at all. That's called being barely functional. Real fluency depends on your native language and target language, but requires years and years of work. It's not sexy like the idea of using an app and magically becoming "fluent" in a language.
- spectramax 7y ago
  Totally, appreciate your insight. Just wanted to say thanks!

Memrise is better as its more structured. But it's only as a supplement. Duolingo is also a good supplement, not the primary tool. Best to take some class and drill textbooks with fill-in exercises. Then books with short texts on different topics - highlight words, memorize. Then find ways to practice in real life. Yes people say they used Duolingo to being close to fluent, most people who speak very bad grammar and mix tenses but people don't correct them mush as they get the point. So most are unaware. I speak it from first hand experience knowing about 10 people like that.

dominotw 7y ago
> Best to take some class and drill textbooks with fill-in exercises. I disagree with your analysis. Most people aren't trying to be speaking super gramatically correct sentences. Most are learning to speak passable sentences. Most important thing while learning a language is to have fun, so you can keep coming back to it. Duolingo makes it fun and interactive. Doing endless grammer textbook excerises /drills takes enormous will power that casual learners don't have.
- michalu 7y ago
  That was exactly my point. And Duolingo is the perfect tool for such people ... for those who want to master the language and have the will Duolingo will slow you down. Also a lot of people speak here from English native point of view ... yeah it doesn't matter you don't speak proper grammar when in Spain once in a while or while nomading. It does matter when you're foreigner and want to build a career or be successful in business/society in the said country.

andrewzah 7y ago

Glossika (basically a modern pimsleur) is the best app that I've found for practicing a language. If you actually want to learn a language? - find one or three good textbooks and follow them completely with exercises - find a language exchange, but it won't be helpful for speaking until you know 200-300 words and can speak a little. exchanges can be good for making friends, though. they're great for getting feedback on your pronunciation, speaking, etc, but always take things with a grain of salt. native speakers are not always good teachers. - find graded readers or native content that is catered to early, medium, advanced levels, etc. immersion is really important - use Anki for spaced repetition, to memorize vocabulary (that you found from native content like tv shows / books / etc) - make friends thru language exchanges or apps like Hello Talk / Tandem - in general try to get as much input and output as possible. people usually neglect speaking and listening. - finding a weekly tutor can help you iron out personal issues, particularly with pronunciation Doing an app for a few mins a day is never going to teach you a language to a "fluent" degree, despite what marketing they have. Learning a language requires serious study and practice- speaking (and writing, etc) are muscles that you have to train over time by interacting with real people. I don't consider making a few contrived sentences like "my name is X, i do y for a living, where is the bathroom" to be fluent. Not at all. That's called being barely functional. Real fluency depends on your native language and target language, but requires years and years of work. It's not sexy like the idea of using an app and magically becoming "fluent" in a language.

spectramax 7y ago
Totally, appreciate your insight. Just wanted to say thanks!