The explosion of language learning apps like Duolingo has made it easier than ever to learn a new language—right from your phone. But can you really learn a language using just an app? Traditional language classes seem to be falling out of favor, but in this article I’m going to break down the benefits of a language class and the drawbacks of language apps like Duolingo. The goal of this article isn’t to discredit language apps either! They’re extremely powerful tools when used in the right context. So without further ado, let’s jump into it.
Why People Turn to Apps to Learn a Language
When someone wants to learn a language, apps seem like a great way to do it. You can engage in microlessons while on the move, and it makes practice easy! Apps like Duolingo take it a step further by having streaks and other engagement features that keep you coming back for high scores. Pretty much everyone these days has a smart phone on them at all times, so accessibility is a non-issue. Additionally, language apps lower the barrier of entry with cheaper prices.
What Language Apps Do Well
As discussed previously, language apps excel when it comes to price and accessibility. Most language apps even let you take free lessons! They gamifying the learning of a language which can be a breath of fresh air when trying to learn. It keeps you coming back and wanting to learn without having to worry about signing up and attending classes. There’s also countless options to consider as the list of language apps seem to be ever expanding.
Limitations of Language Learning Apps
While the accessibility and low price point of learning apps is great, there’s a number of limitations they have that should be considered. The biggest one is the lack of a personalized learning experience. While the apps claim to be ‘smart’ in catering lessons and the pace of learning to each user, it still lacks the individualization and personalization you’d get from an actual teacher. Nothing can replace being able to ask questions in class and learning with fellow peers. Additionally, you’ll have a lack of true conversational practice. Many classes set aside class time to engage students in conversation, which is arguably the most important aspect to learning a language. Losing out on this crucial instructional time can really impact the speed at which you learn a language.
Another limitation is the lack of cultural context. Culture and language go hand-in-hand, and when you miss the cultural context of a language it can severely impact your effectiveness with learning a language. It immensely improves your conversational language too!
What’s Missing from the Equation?
Now let’s outline the limitations we discussed above:
1. Speaking and Conversational Practice
Without a proper teacher, you’ll miss out on the speaking and conversational practice that is essential when learning a language. Not having this practice can make it difficult to engage with the new language and with others when talking out on the street.
2. Cultural Immersion
Cultural immersion is equally important when learning a language as it adds much needed context when speaking. If you don’t understand the culture surrounding the language, it can be difficult to remain motivated and consistent with your conversational language.
3. Customized Feedback
While apps can give catered feedback to the user, they can lack the customization that a proper teacher can provide. The teacher can identify and fix problems before they become habits for students when learning a new language.
4. Grammar Depth
When you learn a language, grammar is an important part to consider. Language apps like Duolingo provide bite-sized grammar lessons but can lack the depth needed to engage with the language on a deeper more holistic level.
How to Effectively Learn a Language
When you learn a language, how you learn is important. While we talked about the negatives of language apps like Duolingo, I don’t want to underestimate their toolset. Language apps can be an extremely powerful motivator when learning a new language by incorporating incentives that in-person classrooms may not be able to provide. However, classes provide deeper, more holistic lessons that can’t be understated. For this reason, I highly recommend you use both! Taking a class is a great way to have a strong foundation for learning a new language while language apps can provide a great way to study.
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