DuoLingo Wants to Crown You

One morning not long ago, I logged onto my DuoLingo language learning program and discovered a new feature — a gold crown attached to each of the topics.

DuoLingo is my favorite free online language learning program.  I must enjoy it because I have been using it on a daily basis since 2014.  I began by studying the Spanish language and soon added five other languages.

DuoLingo often adds new features which the user needs to experiment with to understand.  The first thing I noticed was that the crown levels add a surprising amount of new material  (five more levels) to each topic. For me in Spanish, this feature was welcome because I had long ago completed the "tree" which contains all of the possible vocabulary and grammar topics. A new challenge was just what I needed to add complexity to my Spanish study.

So I jumped right in with my iPhone and started a crown level.  A new circular counter with five segments appeared in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.  What was that I wondered?  I soon found out. Every time I made an error of any kind, a segment of the counter disappeared.

Only two segments left!

And when all the segments were gone?  I had "lost"and was not allowed to continue with the program until I regained my "health." 

Out of health!

My options were:  (1) Spend 450 of the gems I had collected on the program to refill. (2) Purchase gems for cold hard cash from the program to refill. (3) Wait about five hours for my health to be automatically refilled. (4)  Trudge up the stairs to my laptop and do a few easy lessons to refill the counter. (The web version doesn't have crowns or counters.) (5) Buy DuoLingo Plus for a monthly fee.  

None of these options would help me progress in my language study.  As a business model for DuoLingo, I can understand what the program wants the user to do.  But from the viewpoint of a language learner, cutting off my language learning is not at all helpful.


One of the big controversies in language instruction is whether error correction helps or hinders a learner.

On the DuoLingo web version, a line appearing at the top of the screen advances or retreats depending on whether you give a right or wrong answer; however, you are allowed unlimited access with no penalties.  The web system is a gentler form of error correction.  The new mobile crown system is much more punitive.  Imagine if I were to make a language error speaking in real life and be barred from further conversation unless I paid a ransom or waited several hours! That just isn't realistic.

DuoLingo is the best language learning platform that I have found.  It is accessible, motivating, and innovative.  The stated mission of the program is free language education for the world.  I love it and use it every day.

But that darn health meter really bugs me and gets in the way of my language progress.  I wish I could log onto DuoLingo one day in the future and find that those intimidating counters were just another failed experiment.

 

DuoLingo Has Something for Everyone

Most people I chat with these days about language study mention they are using DuoLingo, a free,  popular internet program. I am a devotee of DuoLingo and have been using it every day for over four years (I have a 1465 day streak going—obsessive, right?)  I study four Romance languages and two Celtic languages.  DuoLingo offers an impressive array of languages and frequently adds new languages.. You can do Duolingo on a computer or a mobile device.

If you haven't been introduced to DuoLingo yet, let me try to summarize it. Warning: the program is addictive.  You are presented with a series of exercises in the language of your choice based on vocabulary and grammar topics, such as "to be" or "business."

Each exercise has approximately ten parts which may be listening, speaking, reading or writing activities. Answers can be submitted by keyboard or voice. If you complete an exercise successfully, you hear a pleasant computer sound and are awarded 10 or more experience points (XP's). That is the heart of the program. But DuoLingo consists of more optional features to personalize the language learning experience.  Which types of personality might use the various features, I wondered?

Language Geeks

As I began to use DuoLingo, I was both surprised and heartened to learn how many language geeks besides myself are out in the world.  For example, in the web version, after submitting each answer, DuoLingo gives you the option of discussing it with other users.  Who would have predicted that there would be so many passionate and complex exchanges about grammar and vocabulary? An example from DuoLingo Spanish, one of 103 entries about translating "We drink milk," is "Can someone help me understand the difference between bebe, bebes, bemos (sic) and bebemos?" 

Another feature that language geeks may enjoy is clicking the "report" button if they disagree with the correct answer.  I have done that myself a few times and have even received a reply back from DuoLingo saying that my answer would now be accepted.  Ah, the joy of righting a wrong in the world!

A "share" version on the mobile version allows users the option of sending an answer to someone or some place.  I just discovered one possibility, "Add to Notes," that may work for recording something I want to ponder at my leisure.

Finally, language geeks may be intrigued by the offerings of two invented languages,  Klingon and High Valyrian, recent additions to DuoLingo.

Old School Users

If your first experience studying another language was in a grade or high school classroom, as mine was, you may be searching for DuoLingo features that look and feel familiar.  Both the web and mobile versions have buttons to click to read short grammar explanations. You click on the light bulb in the web version to learn more about the topic.

You can also take a teacher role by clicking on the "Review" button after each exercise and comparing your erroneous answers to the correct ones.

As students, we are comfortable with ability levels (remember Blue Bird and Red Bird groups in kinder?).  DuoLingo allows users to progress through levels, with material becoming increasing challenging.  Recently DuoLingo introduced "crown" levels which give users even more challenge and practice (sort of like additional pages in a workbook). 

The good news is that the web version makes the crown levels easier to achieve because the consequences of wrong answers are not as dire as on the mobile version.  (This is a controversial topic for another day.)

Another feature that old school users may recognize is found under "Labs" on the web version.  I recently clicked on several of the interactive Spanish stories and found the experience familiar and enjoyable. 

Social Butterflies

As an introvert, I may not be the best person to comment on social opportunities on DuoLingo, but I do realize that connecting to other language learners is important.  The web version of  DuoLingo has an active discussion board where I have received good advice from time to time, usually about how to use a new DuoLingo feature. And be advised that DuoLingo does throw new features at you without warning for which you may need a little help from your online friends.

Another social media type feature of DuoLingo on the mobile version is an icon called "Clubs."  I haven't explored it fully, but at first glance it looks like a sort of Facebook for DuoLingo users.

Another less demanding social aspect of DuoLingo is following other users and having them follow you.  You can check your Leader Board to see how the amount of experience points you achieve compares to people that you follow. And be advised that there is always someone out there who is ahead of you. 

I try to imagine some of these leaders who are way out front.  Do they have a life?

No matter what your age, personality, language background or skill with technology, I believe that if you have an interest in other languages for whatever purpose that you can find what you want on DuoLingo to personalize the language learning experience.  And remember, DuoLingo is free and may become your favorite healthy habit.

More New Words for Old Ideas

Last January I published a blog post about new words that are being used to express old meanings.  That post received a high number of hits, so for the last several months, I have been on the lookout for more signs of creativity in language.  My husband, Wayne, who has a keen ear for colorful language, is in on the game. 

Recently Wayne returned from an annual meeting of the American Chuck Wagon Association, held in Fredericksburg, Texas.  He shared with me that he received an unusual compliment for his biscuits served from a chuck wagon.  (Not that a compliment was unusual, but the words used were!)  Someone told him, "Your biscuits are the bomb." 

Wayne was taken aback for a few moments until he realized that his biscuits had just received a rating of awesome, phenomenal, the best. Because the word "bomb" is usually associated with unpleasant events, using it with the opposite meaning makes it stand out.  I am reminded of how the word "bad" has taken on the meaning of "very good" in recent years.  

Newspaper comics are a constant source of innovative language use.  One of my favorite cartoon characters is the teenage boy, Jeremy,  in "Zits". 

Jeremy shows his friend, Pierce, a pop-up ad about himself advertising that he is, among other things, a "totally woke dude."   "Woke" has taken on a non-literal meaning of being socially aware, knowing what's happening.  The new use originated in African American Vernacular English and was first used by teenagers in Internet slang.  We older folks might say someone is really "with it."  (Oh, how our use of slang terms dates us!) 

Another source of creative language terms is National Public Radio (NPR).  If NPR uses a term, I feel confident that the term has reached a mainstream audience.  "Thirst Trap" is one such expression.  As I understand it, it is a message that seeks to get attention, such as a provocative picture or a flirtatious message on social media.  Another term is "Cringe Factor,"  which is self-explanatory:  something that provokes a negative physical response, such as flinching. 

I need help from readers on the next term.  Several times while watching detective shows, I have heard the main inspector inquiring of colleagues something like, "What's the joy on the new case?"  Am I hearing that correctly?  Is "joy" being used for "new information"?  

The next example of descriptive language use comes from one of my husband's friends.  A group of men were discussing issues in their chuck wagon organization, specifically newcomers who had little knowledge but wanted rapid change.  One group member described them as "attacking with a rubber tomahawk perspective."     Isn't it amazing what we humans can create with language?

Often we resist language change, claiming that new words and expressions are a sign of moral and intellectual decay. We humans do hate any kind of change in our lives, don't we? But I would like to make the case that language change is a natural phenomenon, but we do have the power of decision over our own language use.  I for one find language innovation fascinating.  I may not choose to use all of the new language that I hear if it doesn't fit my personality or life style, but, yes, it does bring a big smile to my face.  

Dealing with Language Anxiety

This summer will find me on my first trip to Italy.  Plans are to travel around Northern Italy by local train for a week and then meet up with friends and family at a villa in Tuscany.

Italian Villa - Le Due Volpi

Sounds like a dream vacation, doesn't it?  Then what is the source of this anxiety I feel when I visualize the trip?  It may be language anxiety rearing its ugly head.

My husband, Wayne, reminded me recently that this is the only trip we have taken for which we have zero ability in the native language.  Our previous travels have been to countries where English, French, Spanish or Portuguese are spoken.  English is my native language (although I must admit that in Scotland, one of our favorite travel locations, communication was sketchy, at best!)  

I know enough of the other three languages to survive in Canada, Spain, or Portugal.  But my 

halfhearted attempts to learn Italian through the years have not resulted in even minimal  communicative ability.  And, to make matters worse, since I am the language nerd of the family, I am expected to know some Italian.  No pressure there!

Should I cop out and speak Spanish to the Italians, hoping there is enough similarity in the two languages to communicate?  Some of my Spanish-speaking friends have suggested this solution because it worked for them.  But a nagging voice inside tells me to use this trip as an opportunity to learn some Italian. I suppose it is time to get serious about this Italian study.

Italian is already one of the languages I study on a daily basis on Duolingo, my favorite free online language learning course. I work on Italian exercises about ten minutes daily, which has lulled me into thinking that Italian isn't that hard if one knows other Romance languages. 

Duolingo, Italian

You (plural) eat the bread, right?  The problem is that I have a passive understanding of Italian, which means I can read this sentence or maybe even understand it when spoken  But what if I find myself in a situation where I have to create the same sentence? 

Restaurant in Florence, Italy

 (The Florence restaurant is candlelit with violins playing "O Solo Mio" softly in the background.The waiter brings a basket of freshly-baked bread to the table.  I turn to my dinner companions and say magnanimously, "Voi mangiate il pane," remembering that I want to save room for the gelato on the dessert menu.)  

Even though I plan to continue with Duolingo to build up Italian vocabulary and grammar skills, I need an additional method to force me to think in the language, that is, to turn thoughts into language.  The method I have chosen will sound familiar to you—flash cards. 

I must admit that flash cards had never appealed to me before because they seemed to be all about rote learning and memory.  My Italian flash cards, however, will be personalized flash cards and used in a slightly different way.  As I do each Duolingo Italian lesson and come upon a useful word or phrase, I write it in English on one side of a small card and Italian on the reverse side. Choosing and writing the Italian words for myself has the added bonus of helping me focus.  

One of my first flash cards says, "The newspaper"  "I read a newspaper" "I have a newspaper."  Once I have confirmed that I am saying the correct words, I begin to practice conversations in which I use the phrases.  I continue the imaginary conversation as long as I can express myself and expand it if possible, sometimes researching other vocabulary and grammar that I need.  What is the plural form of newspaper?  How do you say, "Do you read?"  or "Do you have?"  Or, "How much is the newspaper?"  My Italian dictionary and Google Translate app are always close at hand.

Italian newspapers

An added benefit of flash cards is their portability.  I can carry a stack in my purse to practice Italian in waiting rooms or on long car trips.  And flash cards don't need power or a cellular connection. 

So if you have language anxiety (and most of us do), how about inventing a new way to continue learning that language, one that works for you personally and, above all, is something you look forward to doing on a regular basis?  

Language Proficiency Won't Budge? Try these tips.

Have you ever run into a mental stop sign in your quest to acquire another language?  You want to make progress, you are putting in the study time every day, but you see no movement in your mental meter that registers if you are moving forward or walking on a treadmill.

It would be so easy just to chuck it all and look for an easier hobby.  I obviously speak from experience.  But before you give away those language books and delete the learning apps off your mobile devices, here are a few techniques that may help you fall in love again with your language of choice.

Technique No. 1  Think about why you decided to study another language in the first place.  The Irish speak of having "grá" (love) for a language. 

I fell in love with Portuguese in my 30's and still get a thrill when I hear it spoken.  On the other hand, I tried to study Romanian, and it felt like drudgery.  So if you don't feel affection for a certain language, maybe the romance is over.  With thousands of languages in the world, why stick with one that doesn't call to your soul?

Technique No. 2 Substitute the concept of mastery of grammar steps for an alternate approach. For example, do you really need to conquer all Spanish present tense verb conjugations (including irregular and several classes of stem-changing verbs) before you allow yourself to use a past tense verb?  Granted, the idea may sound appealing to those of us with a martyr complex.  But thinking of our language learning progress like an ever-widening circle, like that made by a heavy stone thrown into a pond, rather than an arduous climb up a long flight of stairs, may be useful.

Technique No. 3 When the going gets rough......return to an easier topic.  Often when I am faced with a new subject studying Celtic languages on Duolingo, my favorite online language learning program, I make so many errors that I lose  my "health."  This is rather serious.  I can't continue until certain conditions are met.  Instead of being left with an abject feeling of failure, I return to a language that I feel more confident with and complete an exercise that gives me a satisfying ping at the end as a reward. Where is it written that I have to suffer to learn other languages? 

Technique No. 4 Examine your language learning goals.  Are they too broad or too ambitious?  I am considering giving up trying to speak Irish because the letter/sound correspondence is driving me up the wall.  But I am still fascinated by the structure of the language and its long history.  Maybe language learning doesn't have to be everything or nothing.  Language learners do have choices.

I wish the journey to acquire another language were a straight road with comfortable footholds leading up to a peak where we were all perfect users of another language.  But it isn't.  So perhaps the old advice about the journey being more satisfying than the goal may be our consolation as we discipline ourselves to open up those language books and programs and keep going.

Yes! Technology helps with Irish pronunciation!

I finally decided I was stuck in my attempt to learn Irish.  I had been studying Irish on my favorite online language learning platform, Duolingo, for longer than I care to remember.  Irish vocabulary and grammar points were starting to make sense, but the pronunciation remained elusive.  A new book, Speak Irish Now, and a short course on Irish sounds on Udemy only convinced me that I could never hope to match Irish sounds to written words. 

Then I was flicking through my cell phone one day when FutureLearn popped up, offering a free three-week course in beginning Irish from Dublin City College. 

Hope springs eternal in the human heart.  I signed up immediately.

The course has a friendly, modern feel to the user and is easy to navigate.  At first the technology was a little daunting to me, not being a digital native (or adept at much in the digital world). 

For the first video I attempted to watch, the sound wouldn't play.  A cheerful and helpful response from support at FutureLearn pointed out a slider button that can be moved to turn sound on and off.  Ah, I could now hear those Irish speakers greeting each other.  Did they really have to speak so fast?  But the written transcript and ability to replay the video various times helped with comprehension.  

One of my favorite activities in the course is listening to a speaker pronounce Irish sentences and phrases in slow, comprehensible language while reading words written on the screen.  And the speaker will repeat untiringly so that I can match sounds to letters.  

Another feature that I enjoy is taking the brief online quizzes over a small amount of new material by listening to a sentence and selecting the word that fits in the sentence from multiple answers. 

Capture from FutureLearn.com

And if I make a mistake, I have a chance to review the material and correct my answer.  All very civilized!

One element that I have hesitated to employ, and which the course encourages, is connecting with other learners.  I can see the benefit of feeling like you are part of a learning community. Also having an opportunity to use Irish for real life communication is exciting.  But with my introverted personality, it may take me a while to warm up to that idea. 

Technology is used not only for listening exercises but also to present brief articles, cultural information, short grammar explanations, and suggestions for additional resources.  As much as I like books, sitting down at my laptop and doing a few Irish lessons is, I must admit, very entertaining.  I have learned the alphabet, vowel sounds, greetings, exchanging names, and leave taking.

I know language learning enthusiasm often wanes after the first flush of getting a peek at a new language. The next lesson is about lenition, a phonological process much used in Irish by which consonant sounds are modified.  

Here's hoping I feel as positive about Irish learning after Week Two!

New words for old ideas

One of the joys of being a language nerd is the chance to observe how language is ever changing.  I am seldom bored as long as I have some bit of language to analyze, whether it be a random conversation in the Walmart checkout line or a phone conversation with our thirty-something Californian family members.

Price Point

Home and Garden Television (HGTV) provides lots of opportunities to listen to real people speaking real language.  A term I hear constantly on "House Hunters" is "price point."  The agent assures the eager couple that he can find them a house at their "price point."  Why not say "at your price"?  It is  fun to speculate why speakers begin to use a new term.  What does "price point" provide that good old simple "price" does not?  Is it our aversion to discussing finances that makes us want to bury the reference to money in an expression?

Skill Set

Another term that has turned a word into an expression is "skill set."  Why not just "skill"?  "I don't have the skill needed to turn on Netflix on my new television."  Is it perhaps that modern life has become so complicated that it now takes a set of skills rather than a single skill to survive?  Having just gone through several days of breaking in a new remote controller for our television, I do wish my technology skill set was larger!

Issues

I was teaching a college course in English Linguistics several years ago when I a student told me she was having  "issues" with an assignment. Was she having problems, I wondered? The Merriam Webster Dictionary gives multiple definitions for "issue," the closest one to the idea of a problem being "a point of debate or controversy." "Issue " is used so frequently nowadays that I use it myself. Did we all get tired of talking about problems?  Does the word "problem" have such a negative connotation that we are trying to soften it with a more neutral word?

Reach Out

Our travel agent recently volunteered to "reach out" to the airlines to find us air transportation to Europe this summer.  What happened to contacting people and companies?  Has the word "contact" become too formal?  "Reaching out" to someone does sound more friendly, I must admit.  But it is still a bit too modern for my vocabulary, and I would feel uncomfortable using it.

Optics

I saved the best for last — "optics."  "Don't let the elderly politician appear with his young blond curvy girlfriend.  The optics would be bad."  I like the new use of this word.  Optics used to mean a science that deals with the nature and properties of light.  Now it can mean "appearance" or "perception."  What a leap the word has taken!  Instead of remarking, "That wouldn't look right," we can now say "Bad optics."

Ah, language.

Language is going to evolve in spite of our efforts to put the brakes on.  How about relaxing and enjoying the ride?  Dare I suggest that we all "chill" about language change?