Question
Is it just me but Duolingo makes me feel better than I really am at speaking Spanish? Or am I overestimating my Spanish speaking skills?
Answers
These are the answers of some Facebook group members:
”They gamify the learning process. So you get a lot of WOOHOO encouragement”
”All the time. I live in Spain and I hear the language in accents from all over. I always say that I know I will have a command of the Spanish language when I can understand construction workers talking to each other”
”I have been using Pimsleur and took a break to use Duolingo. Maybe their method just makes you shocked at how much you have already learned”
”It’s super helpful to learn how to say your cat doesn’t eat pizza”
”I can figure out the words, but only because there are English options to choose from…if that makes sense”
”I’m good at writing and recognising but not conversation”
”Exactly. The choices are obvious and simple, but when it comes to really speaking and understanding it’s not much help at all. I took 6 yrs of Spanish in junior high and high school. Did Duolingo frequently but when I had to take a test for placement in intensive Spanish at a school in Spain I was the lowest-level beginner. It burst my bubble. I thought I was doing okay. I learn the most in daily life speaking only in Spanish. Thank goodness Spaniards are so kind and patient”
”In general I do think that DuoLingo makes you feel good. It’s a good baseline. But you have to listen and speak outside the house. Also, watch videos and just keep on trying different methods of learning. It’s not easy, especially when you are older but you just can’t give up. Sometimes I really surprise myself. I might know more than I think”
”Same here. It’s really not easy and it takes time. What I do is as I’m using DuoLingo in the morning. If there are new words or something I’m not getting I write it down. Then later in the day, I look everything up on Google and I study the new words and watch videos on the new material. Also, when I start a conversation, the first thing I say is, lo siento, no hablo mucho español. I try my best to ask for what I need. Being that they already know that I don’t speak a lot of Spanish they are very kind and helpful. They will speak slower and really try to help. You just have to try. The worst that can happen is you have to take out your cell phone and use a translator. Good luck and never give up”
”If making you feel better than your real level means you have the confidence to try and use it in real life then Duolingo is awesome. I think it’s great at encouraging you to keep up the learning and do a bit each day, and it all helps”
”Before it had even crossed my mind to visit Spain (nevermind move there), I began learning Spanish at the beginning of the pandemic as my “do something productive during lockdown” project. By the time we move to Spain Oct 1, I will have just passed 1,000 consecutive days. When visiting Spain, I found it most helpful for reading signs and labels in stores. I am not confident that I can speak it (because I never have) and if only real Spaniards had the function where you could click for them to speak slower”
”I wish I could just find a class like when you were in primary school. Reading, writing ect”
”It’s surprising how much stays in the brain”
”And at least it shows your trying to learn a new language xx”
”Duolingo is South American Spanish, the basics are almost the same, but some of the words are different in Spain. Carro for instance…in Spain it’s coche”
”Yes, that’s very true. Makes it more difficult. But my Spanish-speaking friends and family correct me and that’s helpful. It’s so frustrating when I study something and then I have to re-study the word again. But it’s OK”
”The big gap is speaking. It would be very useful to have a group to be able to speak more”
”Learning a language takes time I like Duo for starters”
In conclusion, according to Spainguru Facebook group members, agree that Duolingo has a positive impact on learners’ confidence due to its gamified learning process and regular encouragement. While Duolingo provides a good baseline, many feel that real language proficiency involves practicing outside of the app, such as engaging in conversations, watching videos, and studying new words independently. Some acknowledge that Duolingo helps with reading and basic comprehension, but speaking and understanding in real-life situations can be more challenging. Regardless, the consensus is that the app is a valuable tool to start language learning and build a foundation, even if it may not fully prepare you for more advanced language interactions.
