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I have found it helpful, even as the central foundation for learning languages, but you have to remember at the end of the day it is *you* who is learning the l
by throw__away7391 3y ago
I have found it helpful, even as the central foundation for learning languages, but you have to remember at the end of the day it is *you* who is learning the language and you absolutely must mentally engage yourself, it can definitely lure you into a path of scoring points without making real progress.
I will pause my lesson and jump over to Google or ChatGPT, and usually end a session with a pen and paper writing out any phrases I was less familiar with. You also need to make sure you’re being challenged, with some languages I get into a phase where it is really easy for a long time, when that happens, you need to skip ahead because just scoring points is meaningless. I still think the gamification is useful and unique and can help keep your overall learning efforts progressing. Also I always supplement with Pimsleur, an audio-only program that is great for listening while you’re at the gym or biking or otherwise unable to read or interact with a screen.
- NikolaNovak 3y agoMy finding as well - how I engage with DuoLingo had massive impact on my progress. Focusing on streak, leagues, and XP/points was detrimental. I'd do the repetitive high-points exercises instead of lessons and feel "I've accomplished my goal" (of having a high score). Once focusing on my goal of "I want to learn a language" rather than points, it was WAY better. I also create my own cheat-sheets for conjugation / adjectives / etc, and find ChatGPT a phenomenally patient tutor for my incessant "WHY, French? WHY is it thus?!?!?" questions :->