Why You Should Stop Using Duolingo

There are better alternatives to achieve fluency

I’ve been attempting to learn Italian for a few years now. Note that I said attempting. Frankly, learning a language is not easy. Like any other skill, language learning requires dedication and time, something not always available to full-time workers.

When looking for resources available to learn a language, I came across Duolingo. Duolingo is a free app that sends you daily reminders (should you choose to do so) to learn vocabulary for that language.

Here’s the problem: learning a language and learning vocabulary are not the same thing.

Learning vocabulary is something you would do in your AP class when your teacher told you to write definitions for all of the words learned in that lesson. Not only is this a waste of time, it also prevents you from learning how to use those words when the focus is on consumption rather than application.

Duolingo’s approach in terms of learning a language is similar to the way a child learns in elementary school. They are introduced to the alphabet, then taught things like how to pronounce colors, foods, and verbs.

This elementary approach is not helpful for adults.

It is completely useless for you to learn how to pronounce things like colors or the days of the week when you’re stuck at the airport and don’t have a ride to your AirBnB and don’t know how to connect to the Wi-Fi at the airport to call an Uber because taxis are expensive in Europe (true story by the way).

The goal of learning a language ought to be to survive first, then to learn vocabulary. This is not the goal of Duolingo. However, there are resources, if you are serious about learning a language, that are much better.

Phrasebooks are a great beginner resource

While browsing the languages section at Barnes and Noble, I came across several phrasebooks and dictionaries that help you learn a language. One phrasebook that caught my attention is made by Lonely Planet.

The Lonely Planet phrasebooks provide you with basic survival phrases, not vocabulary, to learn within the first few pages. The purpose of the book is to teach you how to speak and use the language. It allows you to live it, not memorize it.

One of the things I’ve found confusing about using Duolingo is the flow of the app feels one directional. Users aren’t encouraged to learn what they want; the app gives the impression that you must complete lesson 5 in order to move onto lesson 6.

If you open up the Lonely Planet phrasebook, you can go to the table of contents and choose what area you want to focus on. You can focus on the practical section, social skills, foods, or safe travels. No matter what part of the book you go, it allows you to go on an adventure with the language.

Duolingo pushes you in one direction, which prevents you from exploring areas you want to learn. Instead, Duolingo gives the impression that you can’t learn how to order food in that language because you don’t know how to say stop sign yet.

The Lonely Planet phrasebooks are only $8 to $10 on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Use the Busuu app if you don’t have access to natives around you

I’ve shopped around and used different apps to learn languages. I’ve tried Duolingo, Memrise, and Babbel, but the app that has impressed me the most is Busuu.

Busuu provides you with similar functions as Duolingo, but their app is a little different. For one, their app is conversation-centric, not vocabulary-centric. Once Busuu has taught you a certain number of words, Busuu uses those words in a simulated conversation, and has you use context clues to figure out what the conversation is about.

Second, some of their languages allow you to take an exam provided by McGraw Hill to test your proficiency in either beginner or intermediate. If you pass, it provides you with a certificate (granted, the certificate doesn’t mean much, since it isn’t a college credit, but it is a nice feeling to prove you are proficient in your target language).

A third feature is Busuu will ask you a question where you submit a recording of your response, and native speakers will correct your answers. It also allows you to correct responses for others wishing to learn your native language.

Busuu does offer a free version, which does have limited functions and lessons. I’d recommend trying out the free trial to get the full experience of the app, and if you enjoy it, purchase the yearly subscription.

Want even more interaction? Try out HelloTalk

This is another app I’ve used from time to time. HelloTalk is similar to a social media app, in the sense that you can make friends and text, call, or video chat with them.

The benefit of using this app is you can interact with natives who speak your target language all over the world! If you find someone who speaks your native language and your target language, you can become friends with them and speak to each other in both languages, allowing you to help each other become better speakers.

HelloTalk is currently free, although there is a premium feature available, but it is not needed to make friends around the world.

Conclusion

You can continue to use Duolingo to learn a language. However, Duolingo should not be used as a standalone resource. It would benefit you immensely to either supplement Duolingo with one of these resources, like HelloTalk, or replace Duolingo with Busuu or a phrasebook like the ones from Lonely Planet. Learning a language ought to be about the adventure rather than maintaining a high streak for using the app everyday.