Introduction
Smartphones are now a must-have device across all age groups in the United States and globally. Remarkably, 80% of people throughout the world use smartphones, while a few (14%) use computers (Markovic, 2022, par.2). Moreover, 89% of individuals who own smartphones download applications regularly (O’Donnellan, 2020, par. 3). There are different kinds of App for creativity, learning, gaming, business, and entertainment. The Duolingo Application is one of the language learning tools that is used for creative and educational purposes. It was launched in 2012 for iPhone and Android on May 29, 2013. Although the Duolingo App contains many features, it is easy to use and satisfies the expectations of the majority of users.
Duolingo App Evaluation
Duolingo application has the most users interested to learn both English and none English language. The application is structured to allow users to take lessons in a sequence, complete exercises, and assess before proceeding to the consecutive module (Cerone and Zhexenbayeva, 2018). The process ensures that learners understand one concept before exploring other topics. Moreover, the application provides textual and audio instructions that users can follow in their studies and evaluation (Cerone and Zhexenbayeva, 2018). The application can make a person fluent in a second language if they consistently follow the prompts.
The function of the application is to provide efficiency in learning or honing language skills. Notably, there are 30 different languages that a person can learn on the App for free. Duolingo has a simple design and engages learners’ intuition by applying psychology in directing assessment. The App contains an extensive resource library where students can find recommended sources for their lessons. In addition, there are other ways for people to learn through Duolingo including practice, stories, events, and podcasts. A study by Horinza (2020) shows that the App has three types of testimonial mood, including declarative, interrogative, and imperative, with marked and unmarked topics. The course contents are simple and well-reasoned to serve the demands of different students. Thus, the App is successful in performing most of its functions as rated by most Android and iPhone users.
However, as is the case with most applications, there are some features that need improving. For instance, when answering the questions in the assessment if a student gets a wrong response, it only offers the correct response without any explanation. It would be best if there was a way of showing the student the logic for their failure. Moreover, the App has a dictionary that is necessary for checking new vocabulary. Therefore, the App developers can consider adding a feature to cross-check the meaning of words and their translation from one language to the next.
Market Comparison
Duolingo is the language App that is most downloaded and used by people who wish to learn new languages. Nonetheless, there are other alternative that were made with the same objective of helping people to acquire new languages. The top four competitors of the application include Babbel language learning, Busuu, LingoDeer, Lingvist, and Busuu (Online Course Rater, 2022). Each of these Apps has strengths and weaknesses when evaluated in isolation or relativity to alternatives. LingoDeer App has a similar design to Duolingo but is primarily used in teaching Asian languages. Busuu offers collaborative language experience and has human peer reviewers while Lingivist bases teaching on the level of competency. Thus all the Apps have a competitive advantage over the other.
Babbel is the first language learning tool that was developed by Germans and the main competitor of Duolingo. It was launched in 2007 (Online Course Rater, 2022). One of the similarities with the apps is that they employ cognitive and psychological techniques in engaging learners and personalizing their experiences. Moreover, both have various learning strategies that suit different kinds of users, including those who learn best through listening, speaking, seeing, and writing. However, Babbel does not have lots of learning resources. The other difference between the two applications is that Duolingo is systematic, whereas Babbel is more eclectic and didactic in its teaching process.
The main strength of Babbel, compared to Duolingo, is that it offers a learning experience tailored to individual needs. Moreover, it is focused on how users can apply the language in a real-life conversational setting. The other advantage is that the extra lessons that a person can receive from the application are fun and not demanding reading textbooks (Online Course Rater, 2022). However, most of the beneficial features in the App are premium such that an individual can barely get any knowledge with the free App. The Babbel App has fewer languages, a total of fourteen, all from Europe, unlike Duolingo.
UXP User experience
The systematic nature of the Duolingo application makes it easy to use, even for people that are not tech-savvy. Once a person downloads the App, they only need to open it and start learning. There are textual, and audio instructions for a person to follow. The languages are organized as taskbars in the App, and a person has to select the one they are interested in with a simple click. After choosing the language that a person wishes to learn, there are sequences of assignments that a learner has to select by touching. For instance, an exercise can ask the student to type what they hear after clicking a speaker button on the App and hearing the sound.
There is an option for typing in the answers on the App to get an evaluation on whether it is correct or wrong. Pressing and writing down is easy and effective but mostly dependent on the type of smartphone that the person is using. Noteworthy, the Duolingo is available on the website or as an App which implies that the type of device a person is using affects the fonts, size. Swiping in the App is easy just as pressing and touching. A person can easily scroll upwards, downwards, and sideways.
The App effectively promotes shared experiences between learners in several ways. First, it has many users and can be accessible for free such that when installed by a group, the team can decide on the language they want to learn and then, during discussions, reflect on individual experiences (Tiara et al, 2018). Moreover, the App users can share their experiences through social media channels. The primary way of improving user experience is to adopt a more integrative approach instead of a rigid systematic method. In addition, removing the advertisement can make learning better.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Duolingo is the most commonly used language application. It is free and has more than thirty languages that users can study only. The App is available for both iPhone and Android users. Moreover, lessons can be accessed directly through the App. It has a user-friendly design that is easy for learners across all spheres. The gamification and interactive nature of the teaching make it enjoyable. Thus, in the contemporary world where multinational organizations are seeking multilingual employees, downloading the App to learn the next language is a great start.
Reference List
Cerone, A. and Zhexenbayeva, A., (2018) “Using formal methods to validate research hypotheses: the Duolingo case study”, In Federation of International Conferences on Software Technologies: Applications and Foundations (pp. 163-170). Springer, Cham.
Horinza, A., (2020) “Claused Used in Testimonials Duolingo Application: Systemic Functional Linguistics Analysis”, Ellture Journal: English Language, Linguistics, Literature, And Education Journal, 2(1), pp.12-24.
Markovic, I. (2022) Six statistics that highlight the power of mobile learning, eduMe. eduMe. Web.
O’Donnellan R. (2020) Mobile learning: Latest data, stats and trends, Intuition. Web.
Online Course Rater (2022) “4 Best Duolingo Alternatives [2022]: Duolingo Competitors”, Web.
Tiara, A.D., Rahman, M.A. and Handrianto, C., (2021) “The students’ perception about use of duolingo application for improving English vocabulary”, International Journal of Education, Information Technology, and Others, 4(4), pp.690-701.