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5 Duolingo Tips for E cient Language Learning

To learn e ciently with Duolingo, you should put these tips to use.
BY JOHNATHAN JAEHNIG PUBLISHED SEP 13, 2020

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Do you prefer to call, text, or video call

Duolingo, the colorful, cartoony language-learning app, has turned into a meme thanks to its
your friends?
strange sample sentences and unforgiving reminders. However, it’s good for more than just a
Call
laugh---if you know how to use it properly.
30%, 1387 votes

Let's look at some ways to make the most out of Duolingo so your training sessions count.
Text
57%, 2626 votes

Duolingo Basics
Video call
Duolingo launched in 2012 teaching just three languages. Now there are over 30 on offer, 13%, 612 votes

including ctional languages like Klingon from Star Trek and High Valyrian from Game of
Thrones. In case you're not familiar, we'll summarize some basics rst.
Total Votes: 4625

By meeting language goals, you maintain "streaks," encouraging you to keep up the good work.
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You also compete with other users in leaderboards and can network with friends to encourage
one another, share notes, and celebrate milestones.

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Duolingo's mission is "to make high-quality education free and accessible to everyone," so a
basic version of the app is free. A paid Duolingo Plus subscription removes ads, give you 8 Month-Long Online
Fitness Challenges to
unlimited hearts, allows o ine learning, and has a few other fun features.
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Some language learners suggest that the hearts system Duolingo uses punishes you for
getting answers wrong and prevents you from advancing by limiting how many mistakes you
can make. However, as we'll see later, how many lives you have is never actually a limit on how
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long you can practice---even in the free version.

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The platform's real weakness is also its greatest strength: it uses repetition and memorization Make Your Home Feel
Futuristic
to teach new languages, rather than explaining how the languages work at a grammatical
level. This is why you should pair the app with a language-learning alternative for a well- 7 Resume Mistakes That
Are Easy to Overlook
rounded education.

Download: Duolingo for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available) 7 Disadvantages of Using a
VPN

1. Stick to Latin Alphabet Languages

If you’re an English speaker, Duolingo currently has over 30 languages that you can take
“courses” in. Less-common languages might be more attractive to the adventurous learner,
but beware: a few of those languages use non-Latin alphabets. These include Japanese,
Hebrew, and Korean.

Not only does this make the language harder to learn, it can also create usability problems for
your device. That’s particularly true when you need to type in answers.

Thankfully, both Android and iOS make it easy to type in other languages with your keyboard if
you do choose to go with one of these languages.

On Android, head to Settings > System > Languages & input. This will open a menu with your
phone's available keyboard apps, which should all support adding another language.

Toggle any that you'd like to use, then you can switch between them using a key on your
keyboard (often a globe icon or by holding Space).

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For iPhone, head to Settings > General > Keyboards and tap Add New Keyboard. Select a
language from the list, then tap the Globe icon in the bottom-left to switch to it.

The good news is that while this changes your keyboard, the operating language of your
phone stays the same. Thus, you won't need to speak Japanese to change the keyboard back
when you're done practicing.

On the off-chance that you want to type in a language that your phone doesn't support, you
can likely nd an alternative language keyboard on the App Store or Google Play. However,
third-party keyboards may not be compatible with Duolingo.

2. Know Your Device's Keyboard

If you’re familiar with other languages like French, Spanish, and German, you might know that
even though these languages share a basic alphabet with English, they also have some
modi ed characters (such as accented vowels).

The good news is that you don’t need to use additional keyboards to access these characters.
On most Android and iOS keyboards, holding down the key that looks the closest will initiate a
popup menu that lets you select modi ed versions of that character.

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Knowing where to nd these special characters on your device will help you get the most out
of Duolingo for these languages.

3. Be Aware of Grammar Rules

Duolingo works primarily through memorization. It presents you with words in different
contexts and tasks you with guring out the rest. This works best for languages with a
sentence structure that is similar to that of English, like German.

Languages with drastically different sentence structures (like Latin) get little additional
instruction, making them a lot to take on. However, if you're primarily learning languages
through a class or with the help of other textbooks and guides, nothing beats Duolingo for
nailing down vocabulary.

If you're up for learning more, the Duolingo blog sometimes posts articles with additional info
that isn’t always spelled out in the app.

Further, when Duolingo notices you getting questions wrong because of different language
rules, it sometimes tries to help you out with a mini-lesson. Getting one of these lessons does
require losing at least one life, however, which can be a problem if you don't have the premium
subscription.

4. Know the System

Unless you have Duolingo Plus, the service gives you ve lives that refresh every day. This
means that, if you aren't careful, you can run into trouble with when they refresh.

Suppose that you get your friendly reminder to do your lesson just after dinner, but you're out
with friends. Later, you nally head to bed only to receive another noti cation that your streak
is in danger!

If you lose your last heart late at night, you won't have full hearts again until late the next night.
One solution is to always do your lesson at a responsible time, but that's not the only way.

If you tap the heart icon in the upper-left corner of the screen, you can earn more hearts by
doing practices, or buy more hearts with points that you have already earned by completing
lessons. You can also select the store icon on the lower-right to equip a Streak Freeze that will
preserve your streak if you don't meet your goal.

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By the way, doing practices counts towards your streak, so you never have to lose a streak
because you ran out of hearts.

5. Juggle at Least Two Languages

This might seem crazy, but it's something that a couple of high achievers recommend on the
Duolingo forum. There are a couple of reasons for this.

More Challenge Means More Learning

On one level, handling multiple languages challenges you a little bit more. That can be
frustrating, but it can also help you to learn.

Further, many languages are closely related. For example: French, Italian, and Spanish are all
based on Latin. So if you're learning any of these languages, consider making Latin your
second. Dutch, Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian are all based in German---so it makes a good
second language if you're learning any of those.

Heart Economy
There's one more solid reason to juggle another language: something we like to call "heart
economy." Say you've gone through a few lessons in your primary language and you only have
one or two hearts left. You don't know if you can get through another lesson, but you also don't
want to give up on the day.

That's when you switch to your other language. Because it's not your main language, you
should be further behind in it, meaning it has comparatively easy lessons. That lets you get
further with fewer hearts, rather than losing them all in a harder lesson that you'll have to
repeat the next day.

Make the Most of Duolingo

Now you have some key tips for learning better on Duolingo. E ciency is key when learning a
language, so you don't want to waste any time on unnecessary steps.

Duolingo has its detractors, and while some of their complaints are valid, most are because
they just don't know their way around the app. We can't tell you whether Duolingo is right for
you, but if it hasn't clicked before, try taking a few minutes with these tips to see if you fare
better.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Johnathan Jaehnig (156 Articles Published)
Jon Jaehnig is a freelance writer/editor interested in exponential technologies. Jon has a BS in Scienti c and
Technical Communication with a minor in Journalism from Michigan Technological University.

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The 10 Best Language Learning Apps That Really Work

Want to learn a language? Here are the best language learning apps that'll have you speaking a new language in no time.
BY TOSHA HARASEWICH UPDATED JUN 1, 2021

Readers like you help support MUO. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an a liate commission. Read More.

Whether you're gearing up to go on vacation, studying for exams, or just want to expand your
mind, it's always a great time to learn a new language.

In the past, you could stock up on books, spend hours listening to CDs, take an online class, or
try learning as you browse the web. Today, mobile apps are one of the most e cient ways to
learn a new language.

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1. Rosetta Stone
3 Images
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Rosetta Stone has been a leader in teaching languages for 25 years. The practice methods are
standard. Listen to the words and repeat them, then match photos to phrases.

You can easily review your progress with correct answers in pronunciation, vocabulary, and
grammar. Rosetta Stone is a subscription-based learning tool, but you can try out the rst
lesson for free to see if you like it. Learn more about how Rosetta Stone can help you if you're
interested.

Download: Rosetta Stone for Android | iOS (Subscription required)

2. Duolingo
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With a bright and intuitive interface, Duolingo lets you naturally progress at your own pace.
You start with simple phrases and gradually move to more complex sentences.

READ MORE:

Duolingo Tips For E cient Language Learning

Duolingo addresses reading, writing, and pronunciation by challenging you with a fun range of
activities. It's amazing how quickly you can pick up the basics without even realizing it. Plus,
it's easy to revisit the lessons and work on your weaknesses, which is one of the best ways to
learn.

Download: Duolingo for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)

3. Memrise
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Many students use ashcards to help them through their exams, and Memrise takes a similar
approach. It starts slowly; to learn Russian, for instance, you're guided through the Cyrillic
alphabet, but that's by no means a bad method.

There's something quaint and inviting about its simplistic visual aids, as if a friend were
showing you tips to remember each lesson.

Memrise has a friendly interface that's encouraging and attractive. Memrise Pro even offers
games, chatbots, and an o ine mode for learning on the go.

Download: Memrise for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)

4. Busuu
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Boasting over 80 million users worldwide, the best aspect of Busuu is its interactivity. With 12
languages, full courses, exercise reviews from native speakers, and accent training, you get a
complete experience with Busuu.

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You can begin with a placement test, so you start at the right level. This is terri c if you’re not
a complete beginner but want to practice the language skills you learned earlier. The app also
provides o ine access, grammar tips, and o cial certi cates with its premium upgrade.

Download: Busuu for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)

5. HelloTalk
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HelloTalk connects you to people who speak the language you want to learn. In return, you
help them learn your language. It's an incredibly basic idea that lets you talk to native speakers
and is a good way to be immersed in the language.

There's a huge list of languages to choose from, and you can re ne your list of possible tutors
by age and country. HelloTalk breaks down the barriers between countries, and that's what
learning another language is all about.

As with any social media site, stay safe and don't give out private personal information
online.

Download: HelloTalk for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)

6. Babbel
3 Images

Babbel is similar to Rosetta Stone in that it's a subscription-based app where you can try out
the rst lesson free. Select from 14 languages, listen and repeat words, and then test what
you learn. You can also disable the microphone and just hear the words spoken to you with a
brief quiz at the end.

When you nish the lessons, you can view the vocabulary lists and then choose from
ashcards or writing exercises to review what you learned. If you’re serious about learning
another language and don't mind the subscription price, Babbel is an obvious choice.

Download: Babbel for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)

7. Drops
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Brought to you by the creators of Kahoot, Drops is an extremely user-friendly and fun way to
learn a new language fast. Instead of focusing on teaching you about an entire language,
Drops focuses on the 2600 most commonly used words to assist you in general everyday
communication.

This app isn’t the best if you’ve recently moved to a new country; however, it’s a great guide
when traveling due to its conversational aspect. You’ll only need to dedicate ve minutes a
day to Drops lessons, and in no time you’ll be shocked with the knowledge of a new language.

Download: Drops for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)

8. Tandem
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While many of the listed apps focus on language retention, Tandem puts the focus on
language exchange. You’ll select a partner whose native language is the language you wish to
learn. Simply start a conversation and watch as you quickly develop a new language.

This app is fantastic because it empowers native speakers and encourages human
connection. The sharing of cultures is the best way to understand a new language instead of
simply memorizing and reciting the same keywords over and over again. Once you make a
friend, try challenging them in an online game to further increase your language skills.

Download: Tandem for Android | iOS (Free, premium version available)

9. Mondly
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Mondly boasts classic language learning techniques, like memorizing ashcards and
conversational learning. Mondly also is home to some great features that may help increase
your language retention even more.

With Mondly, you can connect your language learning with friends and family to turn the
experience into a game or even a friendly competition. If there isn’t anyone around, don’t
worry, Mondly has a basic chatbot that can help you practice at any time.

Although simple, Mondly even has an AR language learning tool to help you better understand
the world around you from another culture’s perspective!

Download: Mondly for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)

10. Mango Languages

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Many language learning apps base their daily lessons on what they assume you’ll need to
know. But Mango Languages allows you to customize your lesson plans to best suit your
needs.

If you’re planning an important business venture in a foreign nation, be sure to focus on the
introductions section. If you’re planning on moving in with your ancé overseas, the lifestyle
lessons may be more useful.

Mango Languages has been specially curated to focus on cultural sensitivity between
languages. One of the best features? You can download lessons in advance and continue your
learning from any location.

Download: Mango Languages for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)

Language Learning and Leisure

Speaking more than one language improves your memory, enhances your perception of the
world, and gives you greater command of your native tongue. It can help your business
expand and introduce you to new friends.

Put simply, it's a wonderful way to better yourself. With so many easy-to-use apps out there,
there's no reason not to dabble in Spanish, French, Gaelic, or even Mongolian.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tosha Harasewich (49 Articles Published)
Tosha Harasewich is a Writer for MakeUseOf.com. She has spent her last four years studying political science and
now loves using her writing skills to create interesting and creative articles linking current events and recent world…

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