One of my greatest passions is learning. Whether it is picking up a new language, discovering a fresh word, understanding how people think or uncovering the reasons behind everyday actions. Once I encounter something intriguing, I dive right in. That is why, fueled by my deep love for the German people and their language, I decided to embark on a journey to learn the language about three or four years ago.
In today's fast evolving world, learning has never been easier. Gone are the days of trekking long distances to physical libraries for knowledge. Now, all you need is a mobile device and an internet connection to explore anything.
One App That Has Made My Life Easy.
If there's one particular app that has made my life easier, it would be the “Duolingo” Learning App. Prior to finding this app some years ago, I surfed the internet to find a reliable app where I could learn languages and the ones I found were either not comprehensive or required me to purchase a premium package. Following this, I had given up all hope because I couldn't afford to pay a monthly subscription because I had other needs to tend to.
Somewhere along the way, ads for the Duolingo learning app started popping up every time I used other applications. At first, I hesitated because many similar apps required payment to access their learning features. But, after seeing the ad repeatedly, I decided to check the app out. That's how I discovered Duolingo: through a persistent ad.
The first thing that piqued my attention was the user interface. The user interface was so user friendly and it made navigating the app very easy. I explored the app and opened an account thereafter.
I can vividly remember how happy I was after my very first German lesson. I didn't let my siblings rest because I knew how to say “girl” and “boy” in German. My eldest brother who had learnt some German from his secondary school immediately picked up on the language and for a while, flowed with me.
I kept doing more lessons and amassing more knowledge. By the end of the third month, I could make simple sentences and I could also introduce myself in German. My joy knew no bounds.
What Has My Experience Been Like?
In one word I would say Fun. Learning something new every single day is so much fun. The app makes it a point of duty to remind users daily to practice a lesson. There are also opportunities to make new friends and accountability partners. With each milestone, users are awarded and for those who are using the free version, like myself, there are opportunities to win the premium version once in a while. While using the premium version, the user is given the opportunity to actually speak the language, making retention easier.
Another major perk is that for those who want to study abroad, the Duolingo English test is recognized and accepted in certain institutions. Imagine writing and passing an English test from the comfort of your home.
I can keep on rambling about how wonderful the Duolingo app is and how much it has helped me grow and thrive but if I continue, I won't end anytime soon.
However, I can proudly say that there are certain German words that I can easily understand without needing an interpreter. Also, all the times I've come across a movie where German is spoken, I can connect the dots to figure out what the character is saying. I'm not very proficient in the language but compared to when I started, I've come a very long way and I can't be more proud of myself.
So yes, the Duolingo learning app is one that has made my learning and my life in general easier. I would heartily recommend this app to anyone who wants to learn a new language and also have fun while at it.
Images are screenshot from the app.