Have you ever wanted to learn a new language but found it too intimidating? I decided to try learning foreign languages with the Duolingo app. I’ve spent a year using the app. Over 3 million other users have worked on Duolingo lessons for 365 consecutive days or longer. I found this and other fascinating statistics related to Duolingo users on this Gitnux site.
Why should you learn a new language? Perhaps you’re traveling and want to learn a bit of the language before you depart. About 45% of Duolingo users say travel is their main motivation. Is this program the best for learning a foreign language? From what I’ve read, it’s okay for beginners, but other programs, like Babbel and Rosetta Stone, are better for higher levels of learning.
Why am I learning a new language? I like to stream series and movies from other countries. I’m also writing children’s books with characters from other cultures.
Though I remember some of the Spanish I learned in school, I only remembered two Chinese words a few months after taking a conversational Chinese in-person class. With Duolingo, I retain more of what I learn. I’m currently learning Spanish, Chinese, and Korean with the app. People who read, write, or speak more than one language are called “polyglots.”
English—Apple
Spanish—Manzana
Mandarin Chinese—Píngguǒ 苹果
Korean—Sagwa 사과
What are some of the benefits associated with learning another language? An article from Cambridge University describes some of them. Learning foreign languages actually changes the structure of your brain. It improves the communication between the four lobes of your brain and makes your grey matter denser. Learning foreign languages protects older people from developing dementia and other neurological disorders. What are other benefits? Foreign language learners perform better academically and have improved concentration, more powerful memories, stronger communication skills, and more creativity.
Duolingo gamifies the learning process. Your score is based on different factors, including how long you play. Users give input to multiple choice questions and challenges by writing, listening, and giving oral responses. You get monthly badges and achievement badges for your accomplishments. If you participate with friends and family, you’re more likely to remain active. You can see where you rank with your friends and with users worldwide. Duolingo has a free version with ads, and a paid one, without ads.
Screenshot of Duolingo showing standings
There are more Gen Z users than any other age range, but many others like it as well. In fact, in 2023, Duolingo had 26.9 million daily active users and 88.4 monthly active users. There are over 500 million registered users worldwide.
Which languages are most popular on Duolingo? It depends on which country you’re considering. English is most popular in 122 different countries. Spanish is second, and French is third, globally. Korean is the fastest growing language. Duolingo currently teaches 40 languages, including Valerian (Game of Thrones) and Klingon (Star Trek). 😀
Which languages in the world have the most native speakers? Babbel lists the top five as Chinese, Spanish, English, Arabic, and Hindi. There are many dialects within each country. The top five most spoken languages are English, Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, Spanish, and Standard Arabic.
So, after a year of using the Duolingo app, can I carry on a conversation in any of the languages I’m learning? No, but I’m making progress. Now, when I stream series, I can understand words here and there. Occasionally, I can tell when the translation to English in the subtitles is incorrect. When I’m out shopping, I can understand parts of conversations of fellow shoppers. Even though I’m not traveling to a lot of other countries, I’m learning how to enlargen my world. 😀
Three Things Challenge (TTC) – Over & oral
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