Perhaps we at the Language Lab have been too harsh on Duolingo—it can’t all be bad. While I believe that learning a language from a (human) speaker of the target language works the best for me, there are still ways to use Duolingo in a way that complements what I learn in a classroom. I’ve found that Duolingo can be an effective way to try out the language laddering technique. Language laddering is when you use your second language to learn a third. For example, as a native English speaker, I could use French to learn Chinese. This technique takes your native language out of the equation entirely. Not only will you build skills in your third language, but it strengthens what you already know in your second language. For anyone with dreams of becoming a polyglot, this technique may work well for you!
How to use language laddering on Duolingo:
- Click on your course, it is a small flag symbol on the upper right (computer) or upper left (mobile).
- Add a new course.
- Select your starting language—this will change the app setting. On computer, select your starting language from the upper right. On mobile, scroll to the bottom to select More and scroll until you find the section labeled “For [starting language] speakers.”
- Select your target language—this is the one you will be actively learning.
- That’s it! You can either take a placement test or dive straight in.
From my experience trying out the language laddering technique on Duolingo, I was surprised with how much I had to pause and think! Trying to learn Chinese from a French speaker’s perspective is certainly a challenge. However, this is an effective exercise to try to avoid any biases you have when you start from your native language. Things that feel natural to me going from English to Chinese are completely unnatural from how I would speak in French. Hopefully from this example, you can see how Duolingo still has its benefits! I personally wouldn’t replace my Chinese classes with this app, but it’s fun to experiment with new ways to learn and experience language. Give language laddering a try, you may be surprised with the added challenge!