Duolingo Italian Review
Duolingo is one of the most popular language-learning apps, and this is probably because it offers 37 language courses and it’s free.
Duolingo is a very entertaining and fun app. It’s basically like a game that tracks your progress and weakest words to keep you motivated.
Everything is very visual. You learn new words and phrases with lots of visual revision reminders.
However, language learning isn’t exactly like playing a game. So although Duolingo can be very fun, it won’t give you all the tools you need to learn Italian.
Duolingo won’t teach how to communicate in Italian or how to understand a native speaker.
If that’s what you’re looking for, you’ll probably be disappointed with Duolingo.
How good is Duolingo?
This really depends on what you’re looking for. If you don’t speak any other foreign languages and you want to have some fun learning new words in another language, then Duolingo might be a good option.
However, if want you to want to become fluent and be able to talk to Italians, then Duolingo is not enough.
You can use it in parallel with another app like Ripeti con Me – which we’ll tell you about later on.
In any case, Duolingo on its own is not good enough to make you learn Italian.
Just take it as a fun game that will show you new words and phrases in a foreign language.
Is Duolingo Effective?
If the effect you expect is to become fluent in any language, Duolingo is not effective.
Indeed, that can be said of many similar apps that have you play your way through lessons without uttering a word.
Is Duolingo Effective for Italian?
Duolingo won’t make you fluent in Italian. The main reason is its method. It lets you play your way through lessons without uttering a word.
You may still take small bits of Duolingo as a supplement to more interactive activities, like conversations, 1:1 lessons, or audio courses like Ripeti con me!
Is Duolingo Good to Learn Italian?
I don’t know anyone who has learned how to speak Italian on Duolingo. And it boasts millions of users. That should tell you something.
Then, what is good for learning Italian? Speaking Italian! Ideally, with someone or else with a course designed to let to practice speaking even by yourself.
Can you Become Fluent with Duolingo?
You probably guessed the answer to this question.
You can’t really become fluent with Duolingo alone.
If your aim is to become fluent, you have to make efforts, which means you have to have different learning options.
Also, if you want to become fluent, you should work on your speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills, as well as grammar and vocabulary.
Duolingo is pretty good at giving you new vocabulary. And community members will probably teach you some important grammar rules.
However, if you want to work on your speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills, you need to find other options.
As we already mentioned, Ripeti con me is a great alternative, especially for your listening skills.
How Long does it take to Learn Italian on Duolingo?
Again, don’t expect to learn Italian just by using Duolingo.
Learning Italian is definitely possible, and it can be very fun and useful.
However, the learning journey is absolutely personal. Also, what does it mean to “learn a language”?
Do you want to be able to have a basic conversation with Italians? Or do you want to be fluent in order to be able to watch movies without subtitles?
You have to consider those questions in order to get a better idea of how long it’d take you to learn Italian on Duolingo.
In any case, probably if you spend at least an hour a day on Duolingo for two years and you also review the vocabulary that you’ve learned, use other learning apps, watch movies in Italian, and try to speak with Italians, it’ll probably take you around two years to speak good Italian.
So, Duolingo can be a fun tool that you’ll use along with other learning tools.
Duolingo Alternative: Ripeti Con Me
A great alternative if you really want to learn Italian is Ripeti Con Me.
Ripeti Con Me will make you think in Italian.
Basically, you will improve your Italian just by listening and repeating sentences, meaning your listening skills will get better as well as your pronunciation.
As you listen to the course, you will notice small changes in the sentences. You may not notice the changes at first, but you’ll soon realize that just by listening, your Italian is improving.
All it takes is 20 minutes every day, and you’ll start thinking in Italian in just a few days.
And the great thing is that you can start a 7-day free trial!
Why not give it a go?
Still translating in your head? Wanna speak Italian for real? Check out Stefano's courses to think directly in Italian and become fluent fast!
