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Duolingo is one of the most popular language-learning apps worldwide. I have been using it on and off for years, as do my friends who are into learning languages.
Duolingo has undeniably made language learning accessible and fun for millions of users. Its lessons are gamified, it has a user-friendly interface, and it’s free! It may not be ideal for achieving fluency but it’s a great tool for beginners and even some intermediate learners.
That said, many Duolingo users struggle to maintain consistency in their learning routine. For some, the lack of speaking practice and (sometimes) repetitive content limits their progress. And I know you agree: hitting plateaus in language proficiency can be frustrating.
So, how do you make the most out of your Duolingo usage?
In this article, I’m sharing practical tips and strategies on how to use Duolingo effectively. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you’ll have a renewed understanding of how you can maximize your Duolingo time to achieve your learning goals. Most of these tips apply to language learning in general, so they can be useful even if you eventually move on to other apps.
How Duolingo works
Duolingo features interactive lessons that you can complete in as short as five minutes (the Hangeul exercises take me three minutes, even). The exercises cover vocabulary, grammar, listening and reading comprehension, and pronunciation. For languages that use non-Latin scripts (e.g., Korean, Japanese, Hebrew, etc.), there are writing and spelling exercises too.
Known for its gamification, Duolingo incorporates elements such as points, rewards, and streaks. Paired with spaced repetition and quick error correction, the app does a great job of establishing recall and boosting motivation. It also adjusts the difficulty of exercises based on the learner’s performance.
There is no perfect language learning app for everyone and I have, on several occasions, complained about the impracticality of some of the vocabulary the Duolingo Korean course teaches. But one thing I really appreciate is the use of quality native speaker audio. The app has really improved in this aspect; the audio doesn’t sound robotic at all, making it great for building listening skills.
Let’s get to the tips, shall we?
Tips and strategies for using Duolingo effectively
1. Identify your learning style and goals
Everyone learns differently. Some people are visual learners, others auditory, and some kinesthetic.
Duolingo offers a mix of learning modalities in one lesson, and unfortunately, you can’t really choose which type of exercise to play. But by identifying your primary learning style, you’ll know which areas you need to work on.
For instance, I’m an auditory and kinesthetic learner. I excel in listening exercises and am considerably poor at translating written Korean to English. That’s why I spend more time doing the Hangeul exercises. When I have extra time, I get my notebook and write down the words I struggle with; this helps me memorize them.
Similarly, knowing your objectives can help you stay on track. Without clear objectives, it’s easy to get lost in the gamification of Duolingo and lose sight of your ultimate goal. It’s nice to rule the leaderboard and get the coveted “legendary” badge, but if you don’t remember half of the lesson, then that’s wasted time and effort.
Whether you want to achieve conversational fluency, pass a language exam, or simply enjoy reading in a foreign language, defining your goals can help you focus on specific skills or language areas.
2. Create a consistent learning schedule
When it comes to learning languages, talent doesn’t really figure in as much as consistency does. Having language aptitude may mean you learn faster, but language learning is a skill you develop with time and consistency.
Creating a consistent learning schedule on Duolingo helps you form a habit. It also lets you track your progress better since you’re able to regularly check the areas where you’re doing well and the areas where you might need to focus more. Plus, seeing your progress over time can be highly motivating.
Consistent exposure to the language also enhances memory and recall of vocabulary and grammar rules. But the most practical reason for maintaining a consistent schedule is that doing so helps you prioritize Duolingo amidst other commitments.
I do my Duolingo lessons twice a day — once in the early morning and once before bedtime. Admittedly, I do this because of the perks (the early bird and night owl chests) that come with 15-minute double XP boosts. But ultimately, the habit helped me develop active recall.
3. Go for short, frequent practice sessions
Opting for short, frequent practice sessions over long, infrequent ones is a highly effective strategy for Duolingo.
In a practical sense, you can easily fit short sessions into schedules, no matter how busy you are. This makes it easier to maintain consistency. Shorter practice periods also allow for more focused attention on the material, which is important these days given how many of us have short attention spans.
Short, frequent sessions also help you improve retention. And as explained in the previous point, habitual engagement with your target language leads to faster progress.
Most importantly, breaking up your learning time into smaller chunks prevents mental fatigue and keeps you motivated. While some people understandably drop Duolingo because they need to move on to advanced material, some quit because of burnout even when there could be more stuff to learn. You certainly don’t want that.
4. Use the streak system effectively
Duolingo’s streak system is a powerful motivator, especially if you’re a competitive learner like I am.
Duolingo rewards you with gems upon hitting certain milestones (e.g., hitting the 50-day streak). The streak system definitely encourages daily practice and habit formation.
While your goals should definitely focus on fluency and proficiency, setting streak goals can provide a clear target to work towards, which will then heighten your focus and determination. And if you’ve been there, you’d know that there’s a sense of fulfillment after achieving certain streak milestones.
If you have friends on Duolingo, a visible streak can also act as a public commitment, creating a sense of accountability. But if, for whatever reason, you miss a day, don’t feel too bad. Stock up on streak freezes so you can just pick up where you left off.
5. Use hearts wisely
Hearts are a system in Duolingo that limits the number of times you can attempt a lesson before needing to wait for them to replenish. This is a similar concept to having “lives” in video games.
You start with five hearts, and each incorrect answer costs you one. Once you run out, you must wait for them to refill or watch an ad to regain one. But if you’re on Super Duolingo, you have unlimited hearts, which means you can make unlimited mistakes.
The limited number of hearts can be frustrating for some but it’s designed to make lessons more challenging and to prevent burnout. Duolingo would want its users to pay for uninterrupted gameplay but personally, I prefer the challenge of having finite chances to make mistakes.
Using hearts wisely means focusing on understanding, not speed. If you’re struggling with a concept, take your time to understand it before answering. Even if you think you understand, it’s best to read and answer carefully. I’ve been in numerous instances wherein I confidently clicked on the wrong answer because it looked too similar to the right one.
Make it a habit to review mistakes as well. Take the time to understand why your answer was incorrect so that you’ll get it right next time.
Duolingo offers hints to help you answer questions correctly. You’ll see these when you click on the underlined words. You can check hints, if needed, to avoid using up your hearts.
6. Explore additional features
Not all Duolingo courses have “DuoRadio”, “Stories”, and “Learn the Letters”, and not all users have access to the Practice exercises. But if you have access to any of these features, I recommend diving deeper into them.
DuoRadio is basically a short podcast episode that immerses you in authentic audio content. It’s available in only a few courses (e.g., Spanish, French, English), which is too bad because it’s fun and really great for developing listening comprehension skills.
Stories, on the other hand, are engaging narratives that provide context for the vocabulary you’ve been learning. They feature the Duolingo characters, so they’re fun too, while helping you retain vocabulary longer. But not all courses have Stories.
Learn the Letters, as I’ve mentioned earlier, is available for non-Latin languages (Arabic, Greek, Hebrew, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Ukrainian, Yiddish, Hindi). For beginners, mastering the alphabet is crucial to building a solid foundation for reading and writing.
DuoRadio, Stories, and Learn the Letters are available for both free and premium users. But if you have a premium account, you better be maximizing the Practice tab.
This gives you access to more speaking and listening practice, helps you correct your mistakes, and practices all the words you’ve learned without returning to older lessons. If there’s one reason to consider getting Super Duolingo, it should be this.
7. Test yourself regularly
Regular self-testing is not an effective way to gain fluency. It’s also one of the main ways you can determine if Duolingo is really working for you.
By testing yourself, you can pinpoint areas where you need to focus your efforts. Consistent testing also reinforces learned material, boosts your confidence and motivation, prepares you for real-world language use, and helps you monitor your improvement over time.
While Duolingo doesn’t offer a dedicated “test” feature, several in-app components can serve as effective self-assessment tools. These include the previously mentioned practice sessions and Stories, wherein you get to complete the narrative by answering questions and filling in some blanks.
Timed challenges and special events such as Match Madness, XP Ramp Up, and Rapid Review also help test your ability to think quickly. They improve your comprehension, while also helping you rake in more XP.
8. Don’t forget immersion
Immersion is one of the most effective language learning techniques and you can do it both within and outside Duolingo.
Within the app, features like Stories and DuoRadio provide immersive content that’s both fun and effective. But these aren’t enough to attain fluency.
Ideally, you’d want opportunities to talk to native speakers face-to-face. But you can also connect with native speakers via tutoring platforms like italki and Preply or language exchange apps such as HelloTalk and Tandem.
Aside from these, you can watch shows and movies in your target language to increase your familiarity with the sounds and accents. You can also listen to music or podcasts in the said language. Lucky for you if you’re learning Spanish or French (or if you’re a Spanish or Portuguese speaker who’s learning English) — you’ll find the Duolingo Podcasts helpful.
You can also write labels in the target language for everyday objects in your home to increase vocabulary. This helps you develop the habit of “thinking in X language” too.
9. Stay motivated
Motivation is the fuel that drives language learning. Without it, even the best app can feel like a chore. Fortunately, Duolingo’s gamified interface is designed to keep you engaged and motivated, so the first few weeks, even months, aren’t particularly hard.
Maintaining your streak, leveling up on the leaderboard, reaching new leagues and milestones, and racking up points — all of these contribute to increased motivation. Connecting with other users (e.g., doing quests together, congratulating each other on milestones) doesn’t hurt too.
However, motivation can fluctuate. Even with these cool features, I’ve had days when I’m either too preoccupied with life to think of playing or I’m simply bored with the lesson. When this happens, I find that it’s good to switch things up.
If I don’t feel like playing the core lessons, I just learn the letters. Sometimes, I go back to the rapid review lessons and play special events, which are much more challenging.
When you hit a plateau or start to feel bored, try those strategies first. Stepping away from Duolingo for a while can help too. For instance, instead of playing twice a day, settle for playing just once. If you still streak freezes, you can skip a day. Taking a short break can help you return refreshed and motivated.
10. Combine Duolingo with other resources
While Duolingo is a fantastic tool for language learning, it cannot make you fluent and it’s essential to supplement it with other resources for a well-rounded education.
I recommend finding additional resources to improve specific skills. For example, if you wish to improve your grammar, pair your Duolingo lessons with Rocket Languages, MosaLingua, or a grammar textbook. If you aim to be conversational, add Pimsleur, Glossika, or italki into the mix.
Immersive apps and courses that include cultural understanding into its curriculum are worth exploring. Not only do materials like these help you grasp language nuances but also enrich your overall experience.
Traditional sources like books still exist for a reason, while real-world exposure through movies, music, or conversations with native speakers complements Duolingo’s fun approach as well.
A good mix of different online and traditional platforms will help you overcome the limitations of any single resource. The trick is going back to tip #1 — identifying your learning style and goals — and finding the appropriate resources. Do be wary of overloading yourself with too many apps and tools; this can cause burnout in the long run.
Conclusion
Mastering Duolingo involves more than just tapping through lessons. By effectively managing your time, maximizing the app’s features, and implementing smart learning strategies like regular review and immersion, you can make steady and significant progress.
Remember: what works for one person might not work for another. So, don’t be afraid to experiment with different approaches and other learning resources. Be consistent and stay motivated, and you’ll be well on your way to achieving your language goals on Duolingo and beyond. Happy learning!