Konnichiyall! Hope your studying is going well. Today we're going talk about the most popular language learning application in the world - Duolingo.
As you can probably tell from my title, I love Duolingo for studying Japanese. I use it every day, and I think you should too! But the Japanese course on Duolingo also has a fair number of critics. So, let's talk about the pros and cons, and some strategies for how to use Duolingo to reach your Japanese goals!
Why Japanese Duolingo?
Let's start with a bit of my own Duo history. On March 29th, 2020 (a day before the country closed due to the pandemic), I arrived in Japan to start my new job. And on March 30th, 2020, jet lagged and about 12 hours into a two week quarantine, I opened up Duolingo and completed Day 1 of my Japanese language learning streak. I was starting at the same place we all do: the basic sounds of Japanese and their corresponding phonetic symbols (hiragana).
Two years later, my streak is over 800 days long, and I am the very happy holder of a JLPT N2 certificate. Duolingo has been with me every step of the way along my Japanese journey - and that's why my very first study methods post is dedicated to it.
When I say I study primarily using Duo, I’ve heard everything from surprise to disbelief to a couple of actual rants. Some of my fellow Japanese language learners really don't seem to like Duolingo. I've heard all about how it doesn’t teach you to speak, how the weird sentences are useless, how grammar isn’t explained as well as it is in a textbook, etc.
But the way I always see it is…
Do you know what else these could’ve done in that 3-5 minute timeframe of shit-talking?
...I think you do.
And if you don’t, I will spell it out for you.
THEY COULD’VE DONE A DUOLINGO LESSON!
And for everything bad people can say about it, Duolingo makes language learning so accessible, fast, easy, and most of all, HABIT-FORMING.
This is a language-learning game-changer, so I’ll say it again - HABIT-FORMING. In my (totally uninfluenced) opinion, this is the MOST important part of learning a language, especially at the start.
So instead of worrying about whether Duo (or any learning method, for that matter) is perfect, it’s more important to just do it, and do it consistently. By building and protecting our silly little streaks, we’re teaching our brains that this is something that matters! We care about this information. Let’s toss those words and grammar structures into the LONG-TERM memory bank with daily repetition!!
Another huge plus of Japanese Duolingo is that it is incredibly catch-all and well-rounded for a free application. While it may not be the best way to individually learn each component of Japanese, Japanese Duolingo is an amazingly easy way to learn, review, and practice kanji, vocabulary, and grammar all in one place every day!
A lot of the time motivation is really high when we first start studying Japanese, and that's awesome, but rarely is it sustainable. Even the strongest やる気 likely isn’t going to last every single day over the course of several years. We all have days when we just don’t have the will to crack open a textbook to save our souls, but we can almost always do a five-minute Duolingo lesson.
So take advantage of it! Do it while the intro to your favorite TV show plays, do it on the train, do it on the toilet, do it at 11:58 PM for a fun boost of adrenaline as you fight against the internet speed to keep your streak alive.
Form GOOD habits. Form EASY habits. Form language habits that are as simple as brushing your teeth, and you will learn to speak Japanese.
And that's why I love Duolingo for learning Japanese.
Who is Japanese Duolingo best suited for?
In my opinion, Duolingo is useful for learners of almost any level. Yes, even advanced learners. And don't worry, it isn't like Wanikani - there are multiple features designed to allow an intermediate or advanced learner to test into the appropriate level.
A lot of the reviews that I’ve seen online of the Japanese course are somewhat outdated, and claim that the content only reaches a low level. However, this is no longer true. The Japanese course is constantly improving, and even at the N2 level I find the grammar and vocabulary in the final unit are well-suited for my needs, especially conversationally. It helps me practice actually saying a lot of stuff I learned on paper while studying for the JLPT.
That being said, I really really recommend Duo to beginners, just because gets you building good habits, learning basic sounds and vocabulary, and listening to simple Japanese right from the start. It is a wonderful place to begin your Japanese journey. Check out the 'tips' sections for grammar explanations about the points you encounter in the lessons.
But why does Japanese Duolingo make me learn such weird sentences?
I am so glad you asked! You are correct, you will likely never use your second language to compare someone's face to a potato. However, as a language teacher myself, I feel a deep-seated need to inform you that those weird af Duo sentences do have a purpose, and “Excuse me, I am a banana” is more helpful to your language learning than you might think!
The basic idea here is to wake the student up with something strange and funny. Learning to say that you're a banana makes you stop and say 'huh?', and has pulled your attention further into the lesson. It's a trick that teachers use all the time in language learning. Use the grammar or vocabulary the student already knows or is practicing to make them laugh, or at least quirk an eyebrow. We learn through patterns, not set phrases, so we can all relax about Duo dropping anime references and apparently watching me through the phone:
I promise you and your beautiful brain are still learning Japanese, even if you never once tell anyone that you're eating a horse.
So what are the downsides of Japanese Duolingo?
Nothing can be perfect, and Duolingo certainly isn't a one-stop language learning platform. What Duolingo provides in ease, accessibility, and well-roundedness, it can lack in depth. For really learning to read or write, you'll need something that goes deeper than Duo. For learning to speak and understand, you will of course need to practice with real people and listen to Japanese being actually spoken.
I think of Duolingo less as the be-all-end-all of Japanese study, and more as an everyday super-glue that helps me to constantly be using, reviewing, and practicing what I learn across all my study methods. If I ever can't study in depth for a day or two for some reason, Duolingo has my back to make sure I'm still going for my goal, slowly but surely.
How to get the most out of Japanese Duolingo
1. Listening
Try to always do Duolingo in a setting where you can listen, even if it means taking the extra second to find your headphones. Getting as much auditory input as possible is key to language learning.
2. Speaking
Speak all the phrases and words aloud at least twice. Ideally, do it until you can say the full phrase from memory without reading it. If you can’t speak in your setting, say the phrases in your head, or whisper them behind your mask if you’re wearing one.
3. Language Substitution
Try to make a new sentence every now and then by substituting in your own ideas. This can mean changing out vocabulary words, grammar structures, or even formality levels. Remember, Japanese is your playground!
4. Add your Friends on Duolingo
Add your real life friends - Duo has recently added a Friends Quest teamwork feature that I find really motivating. I can disappoint strangers on the internet, but I have a reputation to protect with people I actually know! Plus, it's just fun to track progress with friends.
5. Do the stories again and again!
Read the stories, read them again and again, and always speak them aloud. These contain a lot more daily language and conversational information than the regular lessons, so use them as the wonderful resource they are.
6. Skip around in your Duolingo Path
While the new path feature takes away some of the ability to skip around like the old one, sometimes I like to save the mastering feature for later. If I'm bored in the current topic, I'll go master something old to spice things up. Or, if I'm ever in need of fast points for leveling up, I have a backlog of Master Level lessons worth 40-80 XP!
Do you want more on how to self-study Japanese from the beginner level? Here are some of my go-to study and practice methods:
Well, that's all on Duolingo for now! If this resonated with you, please drop a like or a comment. I'd love to hear your thoughts on Duolingo for Japanese!
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では、これからもよろしくお願いします！
(Dewa, korekaramo yoroshiku onegaimasu!)
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