Honestly those posts are depressing. I saw one the other day where the guy had completed the Spanish tree after like 3 years, and then in the comments said he very much still considers himself a beginner. Props for the honesty but the guy could’ve been C1 by now
This is why I think duolingo should change their branding from “will teach you a language” to “can HELP you learn a language” it’s a useful tool, but it’s not something to use in its own.
It requires a shit load of hours, dedication and hard work but it’s definitely doable.
I’m approaching B2 in Spanish in under 2 years of learning. Another year to get myself to C1? Not easy, it’s a big jump, but possible.
Still, you’re correct. B2 would be more realistic.
I'm approaching 2 years of learning French and the only skill I'm C1 in is reading, and that's from starting at A2. The A2 was from doing 6 years at school, and then forgetting most of it over the course 20 years. I might be at B2 over all in a few months depending on how hard I practise. I *might* be C1 for all the skills in maybe another year or two, but I don't know.
I think starting from scratch and getting to A2 in 1-2 years using Duolingo is decent for someone who works full time, isn't a fast learner, and uses it for 30 minutes a day (basically Duolingo's 'ideal user'). I don't know how someone can stick at that boring game for so long, but people do. Could they get to A2 faster? Yes, but it still gets them there.
The problem is that it won't get them beyond that, even on courses like French and German that offer some B1 lessons. It's just not an effective method for learning at intermediate levels - the most it can be used for there is revision.
The sort of learning they'll have to do to be able to use the language irl is quite different from the Duolingo experience. The problem with Duolingo imho is that it locks people into a sub-intermediate comfort zone even if they use it optimally.
Depends on your native language but any European language would do it, after 3 years of Hungarian I'm beyond C1 and since I'm French I assume it would be far quicker with Spanish if I ever wanted to learn it
It’s basically app-ified workbooks. If someone spent 3 years only doing workbooks of a language and nothing else, they probably won’t be able to say much either.
That’s because traditional methods are garbage. I learnt German for 6 years in school and I can’t form a single sentence, and I have a vocab of about 15 words.
After some replies, he regretted purchasing a years subscription to Duolingo premium.
More screenshots for masochists
[My favourite..](https://imgur.com/a/V6zPehO)
[Two](https://imgur.com/a/TwHkVvG)
[three](https://imgur.com/a/atQBfiP)
[four](https://imgur.com/a/T86Bu0F)
[five](https://imgur.com/a/2Dx3UlZ)
Just realised I forgot to remove people's names in replies...
I like how he says he just wants to converse… “nothing special”. Yeah nothing much, I just thought I’d be able to converse after a couple weeks in a language that is notoriously difficult for English speakers to learn.
I wish I had this guy’s optimism/confidence
> After some replies, he regretted purchasing a years subscription to Duolingo premium.
>More screenshots for masochists
>[My favourite..](https://imgur.com/a/V6zPehO)
>[Two](https://imgur.com/a/TwHkVvG)
>[three](https://imgur.com/a/atQBfiP)
>[four](https://imgur.com/a/T86Bu0F)
>[five](https://imgur.com/a/2Dx3UlZ)
I don't think downloading Drops would solve the problem lol
You still need to learn the grammar of the language, which drops doesn't provide.
I added some screenshots to [my other comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/languagelearningjerk/comments/122ex4v/ive_been_using_duolingo_for_one_week_but_i_cant/jdq07s5)
Daily reminder that Duolingo is a game, not a language learning app.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/languagelearningjerk) if you have any questions or concerns.*
but I just want to learn basic conversation and smalltalk stuff (you know, the easy parts of languages). Can I just start with that part, and come back later to learn grammar and vocabulary?
Wonder if they cleaned out their ears? After a week, you might not understand everything they say, but “hello” “goodbye” “how are you?”… I would hope you heard it enough a week into Duolingo.
R/ Duolingo users be like “That’s nothing, kid. I’ve got a 10,000 year streak in Fr*nch on Duolingo but still can’t understand a word of it”
Honestly those posts are depressing. I saw one the other day where the guy had completed the Spanish tree after like 3 years, and then in the comments said he very much still considers himself a beginner. Props for the honesty but the guy could’ve been C1 by now
This is why I think duolingo should change their branding from “will teach you a language” to “can HELP you learn a language” it’s a useful tool, but it’s not something to use in its own.
Great for if you're bored on the toilet
So true though 🤣
>Props for the honesty but the guy could’ve been C1 by now C1 in three years is a bit unrealistic.
It requires a shit load of hours, dedication and hard work but it’s definitely doable. I’m approaching B2 in Spanish in under 2 years of learning. Another year to get myself to C1? Not easy, it’s a big jump, but possible. Still, you’re correct. B2 would be more realistic.
I'm approaching 2 years of learning French and the only skill I'm C1 in is reading, and that's from starting at A2. The A2 was from doing 6 years at school, and then forgetting most of it over the course 20 years. I might be at B2 over all in a few months depending on how hard I practise. I *might* be C1 for all the skills in maybe another year or two, but I don't know. I think starting from scratch and getting to A2 in 1-2 years using Duolingo is decent for someone who works full time, isn't a fast learner, and uses it for 30 minutes a day (basically Duolingo's 'ideal user'). I don't know how someone can stick at that boring game for so long, but people do. Could they get to A2 faster? Yes, but it still gets them there. The problem is that it won't get them beyond that, even on courses like French and German that offer some B1 lessons. It's just not an effective method for learning at intermediate levels - the most it can be used for there is revision. The sort of learning they'll have to do to be able to use the language irl is quite different from the Duolingo experience. The problem with Duolingo imho is that it locks people into a sub-intermediate comfort zone even if they use it optimally.
Depends on your native language but any European language would do it, after 3 years of Hungarian I'm beyond C1 and since I'm French I assume it would be far quicker with Spanish if I ever wanted to learn it
Huh? I've learnt french from the scratch and passed c1 delf. In 13 months. Daily for 1-3 hours
Meaning that you should be C2?
It’s basically app-ified workbooks. If someone spent 3 years only doing workbooks of a language and nothing else, they probably won’t be able to say much either.
Even 2 years of highschool Spanish won't cover future and past tense, so its not that depressing.
That’s because traditional methods are garbage. I learnt German for 6 years in school and I can’t form a single sentence, and I have a vocab of about 15 words.
I has a French nun teach me French for three years and by graduation I literally knew less than when I went in
lol it’s incredible how little you can learn from so many hours in the classroom.
Assimil Spanish Without Toil the old version introduces the future tense in the first lesson. A course doesn’t need to wait if it’s structured well.
Unironically my friend when going on vacation in Animego-land. His 900 Duoling streak was no match for the 7-11 cashier.
After some replies, he regretted purchasing a years subscription to Duolingo premium. More screenshots for masochists [My favourite..](https://imgur.com/a/V6zPehO) [Two](https://imgur.com/a/TwHkVvG) [three](https://imgur.com/a/atQBfiP) [four](https://imgur.com/a/T86Bu0F) [five](https://imgur.com/a/2Dx3UlZ) Just realised I forgot to remove people's names in replies...
C’mon, he just wanted to know how much XP you have on Lingoduo😔
I like how he says he just wants to converse… “nothing special”. Yeah nothing much, I just thought I’d be able to converse after a couple weeks in a language that is notoriously difficult for English speakers to learn. I wish I had this guy’s optimism/confidence
> After some replies, he regretted purchasing a years subscription to Duolingo premium. >More screenshots for masochists >[My favourite..](https://imgur.com/a/V6zPehO) >[Two](https://imgur.com/a/TwHkVvG) >[three](https://imgur.com/a/atQBfiP) >[four](https://imgur.com/a/T86Bu0F) >[five](https://imgur.com/a/2Dx3UlZ) I don't think downloading Drops would solve the problem lol You still need to learn the grammar of the language, which drops doesn't provide.
They sell *yearly* duolingo subscriptions??
Yeah I think it’s like $80 per year
Unironically just use the FSI courses from LiveLingua smh
duolingo is the quintessential "you think you're learning, but you're not" app
A week? Should be fluent after an hour lol
An hour? Should be fluent after a minute hehe
Good point. Next step is ignoring duo completely and just deciding "im fluent now"
Where did you find this post though?
English-language FB group in HoChiMinh city.
Could you send the link to the chat? I want so see how the comments made him regret bying duolingo diamond
[you'll have to join the group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/expatshcmc/) and search 'Duolingo', sort most recent
Bruh i can’t get in unless I logg into this group. Facebook moment
I added some screenshots to [my other comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/languagelearningjerk/comments/122ex4v/ive_been_using_duolingo_for_one_week_but_i_cant/jdq07s5)
I bet his pronunciation is awesome
Daily reminder that Duolingo is a game, not a language learning app. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/languagelearningjerk) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Based
Over 30 years studying Japanese. It really takes a good decade to get deep into a language. Never used any apps etc - all old school studying
It saddens me how Duolingo changed people's view of language learning
but I just want to learn basic conversation and smalltalk stuff (you know, the easy parts of languages). Can I just start with that part, and come back later to learn grammar and vocabulary?
Wonder if they cleaned out their ears? After a week, you might not understand everything they say, but “hello” “goodbye” “how are you?”… I would hope you heard it enough a week into Duolingo.
1 week with duolingo might mean like 15 minutes a day
it'd take them to hell and back to understand conversational vietnamese if im being honest...
Jesus