Duolingo, a language learning game in 43 languages

Description: Duolingo is a language-learning platform that offers interactive lessons and exercises in 43 languages. Users can access Duolingo through a browser or a device 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. Duolingo 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 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 fall off the track. The method of learning by repetition and deduction that it is based upon can be quite effective, at least to a certain level. As a downside, its free version displays advertisements and has a daily time limit for use.

Cost: Free with registration + paid options available.

Respect for privacy Privacy evaluations indicate how a tool handles personal data collection, storage, and sharing, including GDPR compliance and security measures, among others. The ICT-REV team provides them for informational purposes, reflecting our best understanding at the time of review, but assumes no legal responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of these evaluations and encourages users to conduct their own assessments: Medium. Duolingo collects the information necessary to process purchases, provide customer support, and run the platform, among which different types of device information, order information, and customer support information. It does not willingly collect data from users under the age of 13. Duolingo shares personal information with third parties if reasonably necessary to offer the Service but does not sell it. It also processes user data to show behavioural advertising. Duolingo uses cookies. Its privacy policy 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.

Type Of Interaction: Individual work,

Skills: Speaking, Vocabulary, Grammar,

Content: Website/other users supply,

Usability and tech notes ▼