[emptysongglass]

To continue dumping on Duolingo: we had one guy join our D&D group intended to improve our target language (so all interaction at the gaming table in target language) who swore he had done two years of Duolingo and was well prepared. Couldn't speak a lick of the language so it was only English from them the whole campaign.

Want to learn a language? Please don't do it with Duolingo.

[Barrin92]

To me learning languages through apps always seemed like learning to swim by reading a textbook. There is too much tacit knowledge in language acquisition, it really only works through real immersion in the culture and people who speak it.

[sleepysysadmin]

I had ~500 day streak on duolingo for french. Sometimes just 1 lesson a day, often more. I got a french book of various names, animals, things, etc. I knew nothing. I thought I'd know a good chunk.

I tested myself and I knew nothing. Duolingo is trash.

>Want to learn a language? Please don't do it with Duolingo.

But then what should you use?

[jgwil2]

Immersion, but since that isn't feasible for most people, traditional textbooks with a teacher, Mango Languages or similar software, consuming media in the target language, etc. And ideally in combination with each other so you're doing a bit of reading, listening, and speaking.

[dayjaby]

Anki with self-made cards worked best for me.

If your target language happens to be Japanese or Chinese, feel free to checkout my blog https://dayjaby.wordpress.com

[jimijazz]

Babble helped me quite a bit with my french

[rubenbe]

I tend to agree.

I've been using Duolingo for almost 2 years now. It has learned me to understand the language a bit.

But don't ask me to build a proper sentence myself. I'm utterly lost in that case, because it doesn't teach you having a real conversation. That includes even the most simple real life things like ordering at a restaurant and then complain that your food is cold.

[blodkorv]

Duolingo can be a good compliment for regular language study.

[emptysongglass]

The number one complement to regular language study is flashcards you make yourself not the, "bears party on the dance floor," style sentences Duolingo offers.