

They are often multiple choice, which doesn’t test your understanding very deeply. The emphasis is on memorizing and translating new sentences. The games are fun and easyĭuolingo’s “lessons” are short and satisfying - five minutes max. If you’re dedicated enough to spend 20 minutes per day on Duolingo, you’re dedicated enough for a more effective variety of study materials. It’s good to help form a habit, but don’t fall into the trap of using “intense” mode.

It’s a little odd that you have to commit to using the app every day before even taking a lesson the flakey millennial in me recoiled a little.

Choose which language you’d like to learn, your motivation for learning, and a daily study goal, from “regular” mode (10 mins/day) to “intense,” (20 min/day).

The process of joining Duolingo is very simple. Duolingo Review How does Duolingo work? You start by setting daily goals To give them both a fair test, I tried learning Spanish on Duolingo and Babbel for 2 months each. Babbel hasn’t quite reached the same level of internet royalty as Duolingo, but it is a household name nonetheless. It was founded in 2007, when smartphones were only just beginning to enter the mainstream. On the other hand, Babbel lays claim to being the world’s first language learning app. The app has captured hearts and minds around the world, so clearly it’s doing something right. It’s referenced in TV shows, used in schools, and Duo, the Duolingo owl, has even sparked a series of memes. In many ways, Duolingo is so ingrained in popular culture that it has become more than a language app. That’s not far off the population of the United States!
