Duolingo: The Antithesis to the Bazaar • Hacker News Board

Re: Duolingo: The Antithesis to the Bazaar

#21

Post by jgwil2 » Thu, Sep 16, 2021, 12:57 PM UTC

sleepysysadmin wrote: post #18

emptysongglass wrote: post #9

To continue dumping on Duolingo: we had one guy join our D&D group intended to improve our target language (so all interaction at the gaming table in target language) who swore he had done two years of Duolingo and was well prepared. Couldn't speak a lick of the language so it was only English from them the whole campaign. Want to learn a language? Please don't do it with Duolingo.

I had ~500 day streak on duolingo for french. Sometimes just 1 lesson a day, often more. I got a french book of various names, animals, things, etc. I knew nothing. I thought I'd know a good chunk. I tested myself and I knew nothing. Duolingo is trash. >Want to learn a language? Please don't do it with Duolingo. But then what should you use?

Immersion, but since that isn't feasible for most people, traditional textbooks with a teacher, Mango Languages or similar software, consuming media in the target language, etc. And ideally in combination with each other so you're doing a bit of reading, listening, and speaking.

Re: Duolingo: The Antithesis to the Bazaar

#22

Post by dayjaby » Thu, Sep 16, 2021, 1:10 PM UTC

sleepysysadmin wrote: post #18

emptysongglass wrote: post #9

To continue dumping on Duolingo: we had one guy join our D&D group intended to improve our target language (so all interaction at the gaming table in target language) who swore he had done two years of Duolingo and was well prepared. Couldn't speak a lick of the language so it was only English from them the whole campaign. Want to learn a language? Please don't do it with Duolingo.

I had ~500 day streak on duolingo for french. Sometimes just 1 lesson a day, often more. I got a french book of various names, animals, things, etc. I knew nothing. I thought I'd know a good chunk. I tested myself and I knew nothing. Duolingo is trash. >Want to learn a language? Please don't do it with Duolingo. But then what should you use?

Anki with self-made cards worked best for me.

If your target language happens to be Japanese or Chinese, feel free to checkout my blog https://dayjaby.wordpress.com

Re: Duolingo: The Antithesis to the Bazaar

#23

Post by MildlySerious » Thu, Sep 16, 2021, 2:11 PM UTC

The thing that stopped me from using Duolingo in the past is that I couldn't even start the app without giving full access to my contacts.

Re: Duolingo: The Antithesis to the Bazaar

#24

Post by agentdrtran » Thu, Sep 16, 2021, 3:39 PM UTC

MildlySerious wrote: post #23

The thing that stopped me from using Duolingo in the past is that I couldn't even start the app without giving full access to my contacts.

This isn't the case now and hasn't been for at least a few years

Re: Duolingo: The Antithesis to the Bazaar

#25

Post by agentdrtran » Thu, Sep 16, 2021, 3:40 PM UTC

throwawaysea wrote: post #10

How many people actually use Duolingo in real life for serious language learning? I’ve met people who sue Rosetta, Babbel, Pimsleur, etc. But Duolingo seems like something people try out as a hobby or distraction more so than a commitment.

I've used it to try to seriously learn german in the past and it was helpful. I'm using it for spanish now and while I agree with some of the comments here that's it's not perfect it's also the best thing that's not an in-person class I've ever used.

Re: Duolingo: The Antithesis to the Bazaar

#26

Post by rkk3 » Thu, Sep 16, 2021, 4:24 PM UTC

People are being pretty harsh on Duolingo.

Having used it, my biggest issue was misalignment with my goal of being able to speak. Verbal is the weakest part of their offering, the emphasis is on reading & writing which I don't care much about. I found it an OK way of learning new vocabulary.