Duolingo, a language learning game in 42 languages
Autonomous learningGame apps
Description: Duolingo is a language-learning platform that offers interactive lessons and exercises in 42 languages. Users can access Duolingo through a browser or mobile app and choose their target language to begin learning through a series of exercises, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing tasks. Duolingo guides users through a learning pathway with steps that build on one another. Once one step is finished, users are allowed to move to the next one, but from time to time, they have to refresh their knowledge by retaking a quicker version of previous steps. Duolingo is designed on an incentive basis, motivating users to learn daily. It covers a wide range of linguistic skills, including vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and comprehension. Duoligo offers a limited free version and requires users to sign up for an account for use. It was developed by Luis von Ahn and Severin Hacker.
Evaluation: Duolingo can be a very useful tool to complement language learning by encouraging users to practise their target language every day, even if for a short period. It embraces a gamified learning approach, which includes rewards, progress tracking, and social features that motivate users to continue learning. Nevertheless, this can also be demotivating for users who once fall off the track. The method of learning by repetition and deduction it is based upon can be quite effective, at least to a certain level.
Cost: Free with registration
Usability and tech notes ▼
Time efficiency 
Time needed to learn how to use a tool and its time-saving potential: High.
Interface language(s) The number of languages in which the tool is currently available/adaptable to: Several languages, among which English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Greek, Brazilian Portuguese, Romanian, Polish, Hindi, Ukrainian, Russian, Korean, Hungarian, Turkish, Czech, Thai, Chinese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian, Vietnamese, or Dutch.
Respect for privacy What data does the tool collect and why? What security measures are there? GDPR compliant? : Medium. Duolingo collects and collects information necessary to process purchases, provide customer support, and optimise the site. Duolingo might share personally identifiable information with third parties if “reasonably necessary to offer the Service” but does not sell it. Its privacy policy mentions the use of cookies but does not provide extensive details on security measures. Duolingo mentions lawful bases for processing personal information under GDPR, to which it complies. See more here.
Saving work for future use Can work be saved for future use?: Yes.
Any other relevant information:
- Installation required?: Yes as an app, not in the browser version.
- Compatibility/ Operating System: iOS, Android, Linux, macOS, Windows.