Duolingo Review: A Language App or Just A Game For Kids?

If you’re a regular reader of our content, you’ll know that I’ve extensively covered Duolingo, its limitations, and how the company is shaping a new generation of language learners who prioritize social media validation over genuine proficiency. 

However, today’s post takes a different approach. Rather than sharing my personal opinions, we’re going to conduct an objective review of Duolingo based on a set of well-defined criteria.

First things first, what is Duolingo, and what criteria are we using to review the app?

The story of Duolingo begins in 2009 when Carnegie Mellon University professor Luis von Ahn and his graduate student Severin Hacker came up with the idea. 

Von Ahn, who had previously sold his company, reCAPTCHA, to Google, wanted to work on an education-related project. 

He saw firsthand how expensive it was for people in his community in Guatemala to learn English. Hacker, now co-founder and CTO of Duolingo, believed that "free education will really change the world" and wanted to provide an accessible means for doing so.

Duolingo began as a free language-learning app with the promise that it would remain free forever, funded initially by a MacArthur fellowship and a National Science Foundation grant.

The underlying premise was noble : to provide free language education for everyone. 

At the time, there weren’t many language learning apps on the market, so Duolingo's flaws weren’t as apparent. They had the first-mover advantage.

However, as more competitors emerged, Duolingo’s shortcomings became increasingly evident. What began as a great idea turned into an app with excellent user retention but subpar content, including poorly translated sentences and nonsensical phrases. 

That’s not to say that everything about Duolingo has gone downhill. The app still has some great features . So, we will conduct this review objectively, using a set of criteria to guide our unbiased assessment. 

Here are the criteria we’ll be using to evaluate the Duolingo app:

1. User experience and interface

2. Quality and effectiveness of language learning content

3. Gamification and engagement features

4. Pricing and value for money

5. Variety of languages offered

6. Supplementary learning resources (podcasts, stories, etc.)

Why these criteria, you might ask? 

We chose them because they make up the most critical aspects of a language-learning app. 

The user experience and interface determine how easy and enjoyable it is to use the app. 

The quality and effectiveness of the content speak to the language acquisition. 

Gamification and engagement features keep users motivated and coming back. 

Pricing and value for money are important considerations that help you determine whether the investment of your time and resources is worth it. 

The variety of languages offered caters to different learner needs and interests. 

Finally, supplementary learning resources provide additional ways to practice and immerse oneself in the language.

My first-time experience with Duolingo and how my opinion of the app has evolved ever since

When I was learning my third language back in 2016, I didn't have the financial means to afford private classes. That's when I discovered Rosetta Stone, Pimsleur, Duolingo, and a few other apps as more affordable alternatives to tutoring. 

However, as I progressed in my language learning journey, I found that these apps, including Duolingo, had considerable limitations.

I was preparing for a public speaking competition in my target language, and I needed to find ways to achieve fluency quickly. 

While Duolingo was helpful in introducing me to basic conversational skills and improving my pronunciation, I ultimately chose to join group classes to take my language proficiency to the next level.

But here’s the entire story about my experience with Duolingo.

User experience and interface

When I first started using Duolingo, I was immediately impressed by its user interface and overall experience. 

As someone who appreciates good UI design and effective user retention strategies, I couldn't help but recognize Duolingo as a fantastic case study in these areas. 

Upon signing up, I found that the app provided clear guidance on how to proceed, ensuring that I didn't feel lost or overwhelmed. The intuitive layout and engaging visuals made navigating the app a breeze, even for someone like me who isn't always the most tech-savvy person.

One of the things that struck me most about Duolingo was its ability to keep me engaged through a combination of gamification elements and well-timed push notifications. 

The app rewarded me with virtual currencies, streaks, and achievements, which tapped into the psychological principle of positive reinforcement. This kept me motivated and encouraged me to return to the app regularly.

I couldn't agree more with what PCMag noted about Duolingo's highly organized structure. With modules arranged in a clear order and each module containing multiple lessons, I found it easy to track my progress and maintain a sense of accomplishment as I completed each module and leveled up.

Quality and effectiveness of language learning content

Despite my initial enthusiasm for Duolingo's engaging interface and gamification features, I soon realized that the quality and effectiveness of its language learning content left much to be desired. 

The main reason? Duolingo's use of decontextualized phrases, disconnected vocabulary words, and nonsensical sentences that fails to capture the true complexity and nuances of real-world language use.

As I progressed through the app, I found myself increasingly frustrated by the oversimplified and sometimes bizarre sentences, such as "The bride is a woman, and the groom is a hedgehog." 

These types of phrases did little to prepare me for genuine communication in the language I was trying to learn.

Moreover, I began to notice that Duolingo's gamified methods often prioritized artificial rewards and rapid progression over genuine understanding. 

I found myself preoccupied with earning points and maintaining streaks rather than truly absorbing and retaining the language material. This focus on extrinsic motivation undermined my deep engagement and dedication to long-term language acquisition.

The lack of meaningful application and real-life context in Duolingo's content was another significant drawback for me. 

By relying heavily on translation exercises and pre-set phrases, the app failed to cultivate the spontaneous and intuitive language generation and processing skills I needed for authentic conversations. 

I had little experience with the language as native speakers actually used it, so I struggled when I tried to apply my knowledge in practical situations.

Gamification and engagement features

One of the key aspects that sets Duolingo apart from other language learning apps is its heavy emphasis on gamification and engagement features. 

The app's vibrant and engaging interface drew me in at first, making learning seem more like a game than a chore.

Duolingo's use of virtual rewards, such as lingots (in-app currency) and achievement badges, provided a sense of accomplishment and motivation to keep progressing through the lessons. 

The app also introduced a streak system, which encouraged me to maintain a daily learning habit by tracking the number of consecutive days I had completed lessons.

Another engaging feature was the leaderboard, which allowed me to compete with friends or other learners worldwide. This added a social element to the language learning experience and pushed me to stay on top of my game.

However, as I mentioned earlier, the heavy focus on gamification sometimes led me to prioritize earning rewards and maintaining streaks over actually retaining and applying the language skills I was learning. 

While the engagement features were initially motivating, I found that they could also be a double-edged sword, potentially hindering genuine language acquisition in the long run.

Read more: Duolinguo’s misleading gamification is changing the way people learn languages

Pricing and value for money

At first glance, Duolingo seems like an incredible deal: a free language learning app with a plethora of languages to choose from. 

However, as the saying goes, "there's no such thing as a free lunch." 

While Duolingo doesn't charge users directly, it's important to consider the hidden costs and potential drawbacks of using the app.

Years ago, when Duolingo first started, they employed a rather questionable practice of crowdsourcing translations. 

Users would translate sentences and phrases as part of their language learning exercises, and Duolingo would then sell this data to big companies who used it to train their machine learning algorithms. 

Essentially, we as users were working for Duolingo without realizing it, and our language learning efforts were being monetized for the company's benefit. We were the product, not the customers.

Thankfully, Duolingo eventually stopped this shady practice, but they had to find alternative ways to generate revenue. 

Their current business model relies heavily on bombarding users with ads, which can be incredibly disruptive and frustrating when you're trying to focus on learning a new language. 

The constant barrage of ads not only interrupts the learning flow but also detracts from the overall user experience.

Moreover, while Duolingo offers a Pro version that removes ads and provides some additional features, the cost of this premium subscription can add up over time. Users who opt for the Pro version may find themselves paying a significant amount in the long run, especially if they're using the app for an extended period or learning multiple languages.

It's also worth considering the opportunity cost of using Duolingo. While the app is free, the time you invest in using it could be spent on more effective language learning methods or resources . 

If Duolingo's lessons are not as comprehensive or efficient as other options, you may end up spending more time than necessary to achieve your language goals, which can be seen as a hidden cost.

Variety of languages offered and cultural depth

One of the most impressive aspects of Duolingo is the sheer number of languages it offers. 

As someone who loves exploring different cultures and languages, I was thrilled to discover that the app provides courses for over 30 languages, from widely spoken tongues like Spanish and French to less commonly taught languages like Hawaiian and Navajo.

This extensive language selection caters to learners of all types, whether you're looking to learn a language for travel, business, personal interest, or heritage purposes. 

I appreciated that Duolingo made language learning accessible to people with diverse backgrounds and goals.

Moreover, the app is constantly expanding its language offerings, with new courses being added regularly.

However, it's worth noting that the depth and quality of the courses vary depending on the language. 

Popular languages, like Spanish and French, have more comprehensive and well-developed courses, while others have fewer lessons or lack advanced content. This is an area where Duolingo could improve, ensuring that all language courses are equally robust and effective.

Another issue I encountered was the lack of contextual explanations and cultural nuances in the language courses. 

Duolingo seems to take a one-size-fits-all approach in the way it creates content, often presenting a Westernized perspective regardless of the language being taught. 

For instance, Persian (Farsi) culture is vastly different from Japanese or Korean culture, but the content and the way things are portrayed in Duolingo often mirror American and Western culture.

To illustrate this point, let's consider an example from the Japanese course. In one lesson, Duolingo teaches the phrase "I love you" (愛している - aishiteiru) without explaining that this expression is rarely used in Japanese culture and can come across as too strong or even inappropriate in many contexts. 

Instead, more subtle and indirect ways of expressing affection are preferred, such as "好きだよ" (suki da yo) or "大切にしているよ" (taisetsu ni shiteiru yo).

Furthermore, when Duolingo does attempt to represent a specific culture, it sometimes misrepresents it by either exaggerating or diluting cultural aspects. 

For example, in the Korean course, Duolingo might overemphasize the use of honorifics without properly explaining the nuances and social hierarchies that govern their usage. 

This can lead learners to use honorifics inappropriately or excessively, which may come across as awkward or insincere to native Korean speakers.

The result of these shortcomings is that while you might be able to coherently structure words and sentences using Duolingo, you may inadvertently come across as rude or overly polite in certain scenarios due to a lack of cultural understanding. 

This can be a telltale sign that you've focused more on grammar and less on the cultural context of the language you're learning.

The bottom line?

In my experience, Duolingo is more of a gamified app that caters to kids than a serious language-learning tool for adults. Its content often includes nonsensical phrases that don't contribute much to real-world language acquisition. 

If you're serious about learning a language and don't want to fall into the trap of becoming a "fake polyglot" (like some YouTube gurus who claim to speak multiple languages with only a superficial understanding), it's essential to explore more comprehensive learning methods beyond Duolingo .

In what scenario might Duolingo actually be a great tool?

Now, not everything about Duolingo is all doom and gloom. There are tons of other use cases where Duolingo might be a useful tool for your language learning. 

Duolingo will work for you if you're an absolute beginner getting initial exposure

For absolute beginners, getting initial exposure to a new language is crucial, and this is where apps like Duolingo can shine. 

Duolingo can assist in building basic vocabulary. And because your beginner's ears aren't yet accustomed to the speed and pronunciation of native speakers, starting slow with Duo can provide a gentle introduction to the language.

For example, if you're just starting to learn French , Duolingo's bite-sized lessons can help you familiarize yourself with basic words and phrases like "Bonjour" (Hello), "Merci" (Thank you), and "Comment allez-vous?" (How are you?). 

This initial exposure can build your confidence and lay the foundation for further learning.

Duolingo works well for you if you use it as a supplement to, not a replacement for, real practice

Duolingo works best when used as a supplement to other language learning methods, such as immersion or tutoring, rather than as a standalone replacement. 

By combining Duolingo with real-world practice and interaction, you can reinforce what you've learned and apply it in authentic contexts.

For instance, let's say you're learning Spanish and using Duolingo to build your vocabulary. After completing a lesson on food-related words, you could visit a local Mexican restaurant and try ordering in Spanish, putting your newly acquired knowledge to practical use. 

This combination of app-based learning and real-world application can accelerate your progress and make the language stick.

Duolingo's gamification can help with initial habit-building

Building a consistent language learning habit is key to achieving fluency in months rather than years. 

Duolingo's gamification elements, like the daily streaks and rewards, can be particularly effective in helping you build these important habits. By spending just 5 minutes a day on the app, you can steadily acquire new vocabulary and reinforce your learning.

For example, when I first started learning German, I set a goal to complete at least one Duolingo lesson every day. The app's streak feature kept me alerted and going, and I found myself looking forward to my daily German practice. 

Over time, this small daily habit helped me build a solid foundation in the language, making it easier to progress to more advanced learning methods.

Get French Classes: a great alternative to Duolingo if you’re learning French

If you're on a journey to learn French, finding the right resources and methods can be a daunting task. 

While Duolingo is a popular choice, it often falls short of providing a comprehensive and effective learning experience. 

That's where Get French Classes comes in, offering a solution to the most common and pressing problems faced by language learners.

One of the biggest challenges to learning French is the high cost of private tutors. Becoming fluent in French requires hundreds of hours of practice, and paying a tutor $45 to $90 per hour can quickly add up. 

And language immersion trips, while highly effective, are also expensive and require you to leave your country and stay in France for months. This is simply not feasible for most learners.

On the other hand, cheap alternatives like Duolingo, while great for vocabulary memorization, aren't effective for developing speaking skills. 

Many people start with these gamification-based apps only to realize they've wasted their time. Plus, finding someone to practice speaking with is difficult, and you’ll end up knowing a load of vocabulary but no real-life conversational experience.

Moreover, tutoring platforms like Lingoda, Preply, and iTalki match you with French tutors, but they don't offer structured learning curricula. You have to decide what you want to learn and build your own learning plans, which can be overwhelming for beginners. 

And lastly, rote memorization and translation aren't very effective when it comes to learning French, as context is everything.

This is where Get French Classes stands out. Our method is designed to help you take your French skills from not knowing what to say to stuttering to conversational fluency. 

We achieve this by:

• Helping learners build the daily habit of speaking French through short, 5-minute video lessons, each accompanied by assignments. This fits perfectly into busy schedules.

• Putting learners through real-life scenarios with private French classes, which last a maximum of 45 minutes.

• Building fluency through practice with practice buddies in groups of six, where learners can engage in debates and discussions.

When you purchase one of our courses ($307), you gain access to 50+ video lessons, 100+ assignments, 6 hours of private French classes , 6 hours of group classes, and our community of French learners. 

This structured learning approach is designed to take you from one level to another, without the need to worry about finding someone to practice with or where to start.

Compared to our competitors, Get French Classes offers several key advantages:

1. Our courses fit every schedule, even busy ones.

2. We provide immersive and structured learning paths, eliminating the guesswork.

3. You gain access to a community of learners to practice with, so you'll never lack speaking opportunities.

4. Our courses are affordable, so you don't have to pay exorbitant hourly rates for tutoring.

5. We put you through real-life situations, ensuring you can understand and speak with native speakers confidently.

Here are what some of our learners say: