Let’s be honest — learning a new language is hard. Traditional methods involve expensive classes, dense textbooks and hours of memorization with flashcards. In the past few years, however, one app has changed the game: Duolingo. Launched as a fun and accessible way to learn new languages, it has now become a staple in some of our very own Boston Latin School classrooms. Whether you are learning Korean to keep up with your K-drama obsession or French so you can confidently order a croissant at that little café you love, Duolingo makes language-learning feel like an addictive game, all while helping you establish the basics.
One of Duolingo’s greatest strengths is its accessibility. As we progress into the technological age, platforms like Khan Academy, Coursera and virtual college programs are making education more accessible than ever. Duolingo is a prime example of this shift.
Unlike traditional language learning, Duolingo is completely free and available to anyone with an internet connection. The website and app allow it to be used on a variety of devices, ranging from a Chromebook to Google’s augmented reality glasses. The platform’s lessons are short enough to complete in minutes.
Benjamin Southwick (IV) explains, “I use Duolingo to aid the learning that I’m doing in my [Chinese] class, usually before bed.” That kind of flexibility is something classrooms cannot always provide, especially for students around the world facing barriers to obtaining a formal education.
But Duolingo’s charm is not limited to its accessibility: it also lies in how it keeps people coming back. The secret? Gamification. That is, making learning a language like a game through in-app streaks, points, competition and rewards. These features motivate users to stay engaged and consistent. Every time you complete a lesson, you earn points and extend your streak. Enough experience points make you rank higher on a leaderboard inside a “league,” stimulating competitive spirits.
The streak also plays a major factor. Ada Jiang (V) shares, “Personally, […] the streaks encourage me to work. But [also] the friend streaks — it’s super embarrassing if you ruin a friend streak. It’s like ruining a [Snapchat] streak.”
The dopamine hit of seeing your streak grow promotes returns to the platform. This is the same reason we constantly check social media or play video games: we are motivated by rewards and progress. Rather than resorting to social media scrolling to get a dopamine rush, Duolingo wields that psychological desire to promote engaged and consistent language learning in a way that textbooks cannot.
Duolingo has no shortage of critics. Lucas Rapaport Liang (V) argues, “Duolingo with a lot of effort can [only] bring you as far as a beginner textbook when learning a language. […] It never teaches you to properly implement your skills, and it also gives a very limited view of languages.”
That is a fair point. Duolingo has limited opportunity for interaction with other language learners or teachers. The purpose of Duolingo, however, is not to teach every nuance of grammar or every skill needed to learn language; its purpose is to provide basic learning skills to help you communicate with locals when you go abroad — that is ultimately what language is all about.
BLS Modern Language Program Director Ms. Christine Kelley adds,“You may have trouble trying to put all of the pieces together, but it’s good to help you identify individual pieces.”
Duolingo’s curriculum covers the essentials, giving learners a strong foundation and putting them on the path towards fluency. After all, you cannot tackle the fancy stuff if you have not mastered the basics. It is accessible, engaging and, yes, a little pushy with its green personal-trainer-owl mascot who will not take “I’m busy” for an answer. Some of the app’s phrases are admittedly bizzare, but their absurdity sticks with you, making vocabulary and grammar feel less like a chore and more like a game.