Polyglot Reacts to Popular Language Learning Apps

Today I react to and review the most popular language learning apps and platforms, including Rosetta Stone, Duolingo, Memrise, Babbel, and Pimsleur. I regularly discuss language learning methods on my channel, including strategies for memorizing large amounts of vocabulary through spaced repetition software like Anki and making sure to speak your target language constantly (in person or via websites like Italki), but today we’re going to take a look at some of the most popular commercial, mass-market apps and websites for learning languages.

It was an odd experience as I usually don’t use these types of platforms for language learning, but there definitely were some gems among them! (And this video is not sponsored, by the way.)

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[damondominique]

Duolingo stories are lit tho. They go so hard with the storyline plot twists.

[coolasabowtie]

would love to see him try this video style again with languages he doesn't already speak, which is the point of these apps in the first place

[thewheekingrodent]

Him: I can speak fluent Chinese

Him: These Chinese lessons are far too easy for me, it’s ridiculous

[rk_san]

Duolingo's basics are the reason why I understand the complex sentences in Memrise. Duolingo's awesome.

[MidosujiSen]

Duolingo is good for starting from absolute zero, that's why the first lessons are insanely basic.

[paulh]

He enjoys the one where he's learning Spanish more than the ones where he's learning Chinese. Try Spanish on all the apps for a better comparison.

[Alfaris]

Duolingo has a diagnostic test you're supposed to take at the start. You skipped that and went to the intro lessons.

[emzee]

Duolingo turns into full sentences and sentence creation when you get past level 1 lol

[glamp]

Dude, if you’re going to test out languages, don’t choose one that you’re already fluent in!

[haseebibnwaseemp]

How many of you are tryyna learn a language over this quarantine?!

[Robin_Goodfellow]

I've noticed that a lot of language-learning type channels and journalists tend to not like Duolingo so much, and I think it shows the difference in general language learning experience between them and the general public. Xiaoma is clearly ready and willing to start with full sentences. Duolingo is great because it does its best not to scare away absolute beginners. It says, "See, you learned how to say 'I am a man' in German! That wasn't so hard! Now, this is how you say 'He is a man.'" Baby steps, never more than you can handle at one time.

[jameslovell]

For someone with almost no experience with other languages, I think Duolingo's approach is good for training the ear and eye. I'm an almost 40 year old English speaker trying to learn Japanese and I don't feel nearly as intimidated as I did when I started a little over a week ago. The app keeps me motivated. It might not be the most efficient system, but it is effective at keeping me coming back every day. And that's the most important thing in my opinion.

[Thepuffymonkey]

By the way, Duolingo doesn’t do the best job at Japanese and Chinese, but it does extremely well in french (from someone who knows french) Spanish and german

[MarriedMule]

"I'm just not sure how much I'm learning" Try languages you have no idea about, get an ACTUAL experience.

[DeDandy]

Duolingo gets more complex the more you learn

[thebelizeaneh]

Not everyone can learn and memorize whole conversations in one minute. Some people need a slower pace. Duolingo is the best for me.

[jomps]

Duolingo starts with very basic stuff for Chinese & Japanese because it’s trying to familiarize you with the writing system before it dives into complex syntactic structures. It actually does a very good job of teaching grammar in later lessons. You can also test out of skills you already know based on prior knowledge.

[Mookielady]

I'm about 4 months into learning Spanish on Doulingo and can converse with my Spanish coworkers now. It's very simple and slow conversations but they are super patient and encouraging.

[niamhshirley]

Him : I can speak fluent chinese
Also him: I just wonder if Im learning anything

[anthonyfalteisek]

The best thing about this is only spending 10 mins on each without seeing their entire program. It's like rating a book based on the opening sentence. Super useful 😂