Most teachers and more advanced learners agree that Duolingo just doesn't work—but why?
Most teachers and more advanced learners agree that Duolingo just doesn't work—but why?
Duolingo has several obvious disadvantages, such as its unnatural teaching methods, lack of personalization, and repetitive, boring exercises, just to name a few. However, these aren’t the main reasons for its ineffectiveness.
The app is known for its gamification, which is both the key to its success and the primary reason for its low effectiveness.
In real life, when we listen to a native speaker or try to say something in a foreign language, our brains are fully engaged because our ability to communicate or understand depends on it. The primary motivation here is actually learning and using the language.
However, in Duolingo, our brains are more focused on maintaining streaks, climbing the rankings, earning bonus points, and winning prizes. Completing the exercises becomes just an obstacle to getting these rewards, and there’s little genuine interest in learning the language.
I think this was the founders' idea when creating Duolingo: make it feel like a game while making you think you’re learning something.
The ironic part is that I believe Duolingo could actually work much better if we ignored the gamification aspect and focused solely on the exercises. This would not only improve retention but also increase the time spent on learning, as the gamification features take up a significant amount of time spent in the app.
But who is strong enough to stand alone against the magnificent power of gamification and tons of research on human psychology?
