What do you think about applications like Duolingo or Memrise?

With Duolingo you will learn vocabulary but you will not be able to start making sentences and speaking in Spanish. I think you should start studying with a teacher to help you speaking and use Duolingo to boost your vocabulary.

It depends what are the reasons why you want to learn Spanish . Them could be a good support for a systematic course.

I don't know Menrise, but Duolingo is an application that I really like, especially for beginners, because it repeats the same vocabulary many times, and that is really useful for the brain when it starts with a new language.

Then if I recommend a teacher, or go out to practice in a language exchange, then an application is not enough to put the language into practice.

but at the beginning it helps a lot with the vocabulary.

Hi! Apps like Duolingo are useful if you want to learn some words or expressions. But if you want to actually learn a language, you need to take lessons and/or live in a country where the new language is spoken.

Not a bad idea, because they allow you to practice at any time.

Pros:

-you can practice in your time

-It's fun and easy to access

-with the paid version you can work on your weaknesses

Cons:

-You cannot work on details such as vocabulary from each specific region

-Lack of pedagogical interaction to correct details

-Human interaction is important in every teaching-learning process; especially in learning a language and in any communicative process

In any case, when you are a beginner studying a language, the guide of a teacher would be preferable.

I think practicing vocabulary through games it is a good way to take this knowledge to the long term memory and the best is that it is through games

I haven't used Duolingo so I'm not an expert on this topic but I've heard they're good as far as they give enough practice on structures, vocabulary and tenses, but what happens when it comes to talking?

I would keep on using them but also there are some apps to talk and listen with humans such as Tandem. It might be a good option to complement your practice.

I recently heard there's an option to chat (and maybe speak) with a bot inside Duolingo, but again I haven't used it so I don't know how it works or what would be the results in terms of speaking/listening practice.

I don't know.

Hola, hola! I don´t believe Duolingo is a complete app for learning a language. Vocabulary can´t be learnt out of context and I have checked it myself and noticed big mistakes in using some words.

It is a good tool. As you said, it is for beginners and the focus of those apps is on learning expressions and basic vocabulary. However, if you want to learn a new language, it is better to take lessons.

Cualquier aplicación que suponga escuchar los sonidos y repetir palabras en otro idioma, es bueno, pero así no se aprende a hablar un idioma. Yo utilizo Duolingo para algunos sonidos en árabe, que son difíciles de pronunciar, para esto está muy bien, pero para aprender de verdad un idioma se necesita un programa dirigido por un profesor.

Any application that involves listening to sounds and repeating words in another language is good, but that's not how you learn to speak a language. I use Duolingo for some sounds in Arabic, which are difficult to pronounce, for that it's fine, but to really learn a language you need a programme run by a teacher.

Hello! They are good but not enough!

Pros:

Gamification: Duolingo and similar apps often use gamification elements, such as points, streaks, and badges, to keep learners motivated and engaged.

Convenience: These apps can be accessed from anywhere and anytime, making it easy for learners to fit language learning into their busy schedules.

Accessibility: Many language learning apps, including Duolingo, are free to use, making language learning accessible to a wide range of people.

Interactive learning: Language learning apps often use interactive exercises, such as fill-in-the-blank and multiple choice questions, to help learners practice their skills in a fun and engaging way.

Personalization: Some apps, such as Duolingo, use algorithms to personalize the learning experience for each learner, adapting the difficulty level of exercises based on their performance.

Cons:

Limited scope: While language learning apps can be useful for learning vocabulary and basic grammar, they often have limited scope and may not cover more advanced topics.

Lack of interaction: These apps often do not provide opportunities for learners to practice speaking with other people, which is an important aspect of language learning.

Over-reliance: Some learners may become over-reliant on language learning apps and neglect other important aspects of language learning, such as reading and listening to authentic materials.

Overall, language learning apps like Duolingo can be a useful tool for language learners, but they should be used in conjunction with other learning resources and activities to achieve a well-rounded language learning experience.

Well, pros: You will build up on vacabilary; cons, there is no progression structure, just random phrases including all kinds of tenses.

For me, as a teacher and a learner (I'm studying French), those apps are really good to get vocabulary, but they lack when it comes to structure and understanding use of words and expressiones. Always keep in mind that they are AI powered, so the "correct" ways of speech they present are based on algorythm rather than in practice, that means that you might have a right answer marked as "incorrect" or a very common way to express also marked as "incorrect". For example, the expressions: "Lo voy a traer" and "Voy a traerlo" (I'm going to bring it) mean the exact same thing and are used in the same way, but one is "correct" for Duolingo while the other is not.

Memrise and Duolingo are both good apps to learn a language for free. They both have a gamified approach to learning and multiple languages available on their platforms. However, its content quality tends to vary depending on whether or not the courses were created by those apps, or by community members. Also, Because the language courses seem so heavily focused on learning new vocabulary, they're not the best for developing your speaking and conversational skills. I would go so far as saying they are great supplements or parts of language learning, but to really learn a language requires, reading, speaking, listening comprehension, and writing. For this reason, I recommend that you start with virtual classes. This way you will be able to personalise your learning and expand your knowledge of Spanish in a short period of time.

There are few pros and a lot of cons. I don't believe that those kind of apps are the best option to learn a language. I recommend you, even at a beginner level, some inmersion. You could try and go to some language exchange bar or something and find someone who is willing to do some chitty chat with you. Prepare the basics, just a presentation and simple answer for questions like "¿Cómo estás?", "¿De dónde eres?" and so. Don't get stressed out also don't be afraid to make mistakes and just switch to English when you don't know how to answer. Eventually, you'll learn more vocabulary and you'll talk more smoothly. Another recommendations are listening to Spanish music and Google its translation and try to get something out of it. You can also watch spanish movies with English subtitles (but always trying to be proactive towards it). I can recommend you spanish cinema. Of course you'll be lacking grammar, for that I recommend you to take classes. I'm here for you and in my classes I always do a lot of conversation and try to teach grammar through real materials and inmersion.

Maybe it could work like a support, but I don't think that you would be able to learn in a proper way

That depends on your very own learning style. I've had students who enjoy using Duolingo. As a language student myself, I've tried duolingo on different occasions but I find that the learning pace is a bit slow as you have to dedicate too many hours to get real progress. Duolingo is very well designed and can be convenient for some but I would still encourage to use it only as an additional resource to language tutoring. A tutor can better help you set a learning plan and guide you through it.

Las app solo son herramientas.

Some people learn with apps, some don't. Per example, I don't have the discipline required to follow an app, also I don't belong to that generation. Nevertheless, I do learn a lot with Podcast or TV shows. I grew up in the 90's and that's how I learned "" English and also how I understood German. All the best, Denise.

I don't think they do a great job in teaching a language. You'll know some basic vocabulary but you will lack of context. In the begginer stage I would recommend a teacher/tutor/guide

Hi there,

In my professional experience, every tool helps!

Comics, TV, Apps, youtube, podcasts, ecc.

Just stay in touch with the language ;-)

Hi there. Duolingo is ok to memorize vocabulary. If you really want to take your learning seriously, you could take lessons either at a language school or online.

I myself use both, Duolingo and Memrise apps to practice (I’m learning Japanese!), and as long as I think they are both very interesting and rich, these apps can’t replace a true language lesson with a teacher.

Even more if you are a beginner. A teacher will accompany you through the process of learning and take into account your difficulties in a way that the language learning apps can’t do.

Those apps are very good to practice and enrich vocabulary or even improve pronunciation, but, as a language learner myself, the apps are not enough to learn.

Duolingo and Memrise are both useful for learning languages, each with their advantages.

Duolingo:

Advantages: It's free, accessible, and uses gamification to motivate. It offers many languages.

Limitations: It focuses on vocabulary and grammar, but doesn't delve into conversation or cultural context.

Memrise:

Advantages: It uses native speakers and the spaced repetition system, great for vocabulary retention.

Limitations: It offers fewer languages ​​and focuses less on grammar.

Both are good for beginners, but to learn thoroughly, it's recommended to combine them with other methods.

Duolingo can be a good method for people who are disciplined and consistent, especially for beginner levels. Some people feel more confident with a teacher or a school that has structured programs and methods. The best option is the one that fits your characteristics as a student, and you should consider why you are studying Spanish (simply for fun, for work, or to travel). If your goal is to achieve an advanced level of Spanish proficiency, I would recommend a teacher or a school. If your goal is to speak and communicate in Spanish at a basic or maybe intermediate level, Duolingo can be a good choice.

Hi! I think Duolingo and similar apps can help you learn basic Spanish vocabulary but if you want to acquire a solid foundation and progress more quickly in learning the language, you should start taking lessons with a Spanish teacher. If you are interested, contact me, I'm here to help you so you can soon speak Spanish with confidence! :)

Hi,

It’s great to hear that you’re taking the initiative to learn Spanish! Apps like Duolingo and Memrise can be valuable tools for beginners, but they work best when combined with other learning methods. Here are some pros and cons to consider:

✅ Pros:

✔ Gamification Makes Learning Fun – These apps keep you engaged with rewards, streaks, and challenges, making it easier to stay motivated.

✔ Great for Vocabulary & Basic Phrases – They help you build a foundation with common words and phrases in an interactive way.

✔ Convenient & Flexible – You can practice anywhere, anytime, even for just a few minutes a day.

✔ Listening & Pronunciation Practice – Many exercises include audio, which helps with pronunciation and comprehension.

❌ Cons:

✘ Limited Real-Life Conversation Practice – These apps focus on isolated words and sentences rather than actual conversations, which are crucial for fluency.

✘ Lack of Grammar Depth – While they introduce some grammar, they don’t always explain rules in a clear or structured way.

✘ Not Always Contextualized – Some phrases you learn might not be commonly used in real-life situations.

Hi, as a teacher and from my personal experience I can tell you the following. This app can help you to get some vocabulary and to get used to the new language. But to really learn a language. You would need someone to teach you. You need someone to explain you the rules, grammar and other things. There are some people who learn languages on their own. But the majority need classes to really get to speak a new language.