STOP USING DUOLINGO FOR FRENCH if you are beyond the beginner level - my 2 reasons why.

[@breadbutt]

I agree with your general assessment of Duolingo, but I don't think it's a reason to stop using it. I think it's just a reason to make sure you expand your learning beyond it.

[@daysandwords]

At his level, it's definitely not doing anything that another resource couldn't do WAY better. I think the most common myth about Duo is: "It's fine as long as you're doing other things." OK but it's still a waste of time. Why do it at all? To keep a streak? That's about them not you.

[@anthonydrake4244]

@@daysandwords It's free... and it takes a couple months to progress through the level 1 course...repeating through to level 5 which is not significantly different in content is just practicing ... so no... after a couple months of serious effort, you've got nothing to look forward to...but you have a base and it cost nothing but time.

[@daysandwords]

@@anthonydrake4244 "It costs nothing but time." is a great way to put it. It might be worth it for someone in prison, but for everyone else, time is actually their most valuable commodity. They just don't realise it.

[@anthonydrake4244]

@@daysandwords believing that you can Learn a language without committing an effort or investing time is idiocy. We are currently spending a huge amount of time at home... if you hadn't noticed... if you can't find the time to commit to study... then YOU CAN'T. that just is what it is. Doing it in a different venue...using a different path to accomplish that initial instruction to get you to an A1/2... Explain how you do it better WITHOUT the time to commit to some method other than DUO? Your argument frankly doesn't make sense. I've spent 3 months with an average of 3-4 hrs of real effort each session... and I've accomplished essentially all I can... I will stay but to pursue that same A1 base exposure for Spanish and then for maybe a 3rd or fourth (Italian, Portuguese...?) but I don't and never have believed I could learn any language through Duolingo alone. I wouldn't think it possible through Babbel or any of the options that require fees... and I sure as heck don't labor under the FOLLY that I can do any method without investing time.

[@PholaXXX]

​@@daysandwords I am a native Russian speaker. I learned English in school and if I didn't play videogames (SEGA, thank you!) I would know almost nothing. I found that Duolingo's English from Russian course had a plenty of information that I missed in school. I did'nt spend much time to progress through the course. Maybe later. But on my level (online tests told me it's B2.1), Duolingo is still a good learning resource. Then in 2016 I got a golden owl in Japanese from English course. So, for a couple of months I had fun and learned to read and undestand a little bit in a language, that even doesn't use letters. Now, a bit more than a month ago, I started a French course. And now I am almost a half through that course, every skill is on level 5. I must say, I didn't use any tool other than Duolingo or Drops in my free time. And also, I must say that French from Russian doesn't have any good tips, like other courses do. But today I can understand a little bit of language that a month ago I didn't know at all. For example, French part of the lyrics in Megadeth's song "A tout le monde". Or some regular phrases like "Hello, my name is ..., I am ... years old, I have a [family] and like to eat/drink [that and that], my old horse's grandmother likes to sell new hats to green sharks that live at the railway station near the school to be able to buy wet flat baguettes from fat blonde farmers for a breakfast every monday in October..." For a month and a half I had learned 892 words/lexemes on Duolingo. Some of them I could forget. Some of them are hard to remember for me. But if I would read a text that has them in, I will recall their meaning. Still, that's almost 20 new words a day with the examples, that I didn't only read, but also heard and understood. So no, Duolingo totally is not a waste of time.

[@jacac]

I'm using Duolingo to learn French from scratch and I do find it useful. Obviously I know that once I have finished the whole tree, I won't be able to speak French. But I didn't want to spend money and time in a whole beginner's course learning how to introduce myself and how to ask where's the bathroom. Duolingo does give me a grasp of the general structure of the language and after that I'm going to take proper French classes. Still, I already find myself able to do things like understanding most of a simple text in French, which I couldn't do before. Maybe, it is easier for me because I'm a native Spanish speaker and a "good enough" user of English. Since French grammar is quite similar to the Spanish grammar, and since you can figure out the meaning of so many French words from it's similarity either with English or Spanish, maybe my case is a bit particular. Still, I think Duolingo is a good starting point, as long as you are realistic about it's limitations.

[@miisora.]

jacac bonjour

[@galaxia867]

@@miisora. ¡Hola!😄

[@xxairbornexx4499]

Same position. Spanish and English help a ton for me

[@miisora.]

Galaxia '.' hi!

[@galaxia867]

@@miisora. :D

[@traciemeikle5479]

I think duolingo has really improved with lots more relative sentences and the stories are great for learning everyday french conversations.

[@Kitiwake]

100% right. Language apps are an aid only. We need the pressure of real situations with advanced speakers in order force us to improve by way of our own feelings of inadequacy, embarrassment, mistakes and the drive to overcome them.

[@clintwetzel5224]

I still wouldn't spend my money on an expert app

[@Fer-fy8dx]

You should really revisit Duolingo, it has been updated heavily. It’s sooo good now, more than before. It aligns with CEFR.

[@Fer-fy8dx]

@Hermit Meditator Yes! Duolingo says that once you complete unit 5 you have reached B1 level. And Duolingo now has 10 units total for French

[@juhadexcelsior]

@@Fer-fy8dx they even added more lessons to the old units

[@stephenmeyers9076]

The recent update makes it unusable. It's now garbage.

[@freddiehickey2230]

@@stephenmeyers9076 why? i just downloaded it so i dont know what it was like before

[@alienengine107harrison7]

@@freddiehickey2230 it seems mostly the same to me unless he is talking about the premium subscription thing but idk how long ago that update was

[@battalionstallion3894]

I tried but when i tried all i got was a drop down notification saying "Learn French or get the wrench"

[@claireofclairesville4479]

Duo bird is out to get us.

[@DJLongLastin]

Learn Spanish or vanish

[@ErelfBow]

As an English teacher who's been trying to learn french since 2011 , since 2019 when I started to use duolingo it offered me a lot and improved me and right now I am trying to find a course where I can practise my French and am able to speak it with confidence. Right now I am way better at finding the words and express myself but I need more than that. But to be honest duolingo shouldn't be underestimated with this title especially for some languges it offers more than the other apps out there.

[@user-dz1zd5er6s]

Duolingo was helpful in the very beginning but now I really find exercises useless. Vocabulary isn't diverse enough, it's very limited. Thanks for your video.

[@FrenchinPlainSight]

Interesting point. I would say vocabulary needs to be more narrow (less diverse), and focussed on your interests, otherwise the brain can't retain them. What do you think about that?

[@Bazza5000]

@@FrenchinPlainSight I think if there is too much vocabulary, it becomes hard to master the grammatical forms, but Duolingo does need to add more vocabulary, and I know it has added significantly to both Spanish and French from what I could see. Many complained that after leaving for a time, they have to do a lot more. They've added a lot more, but I am not sure what since I've never finished my tree in the first place. Too much vocabulary becomes overwhelming. Too little makes you feel you're moving too slowly. Memrise moves much faster when it comes to vocabulary.

[@terrancezhang9036]

I am failing French because I am in Canada and I need to learn feench

[@victort.4798]

@@FrenchinPlainSight I think Duolingo should have more vocab options but you can select the specific ones you want

[@78SR]

If you want to learn language relevant to your activities, it’s up to you to search for those concepts and vocabulary. Because I took French in school, I am frustrated by Duo’s stingy vocabulary. My French teacher assigned about 20 words per day and it was easy for me to remember them. We were also assigned some classic books to read and had to dictionaries back in those days. I have three French dictionaries, lots of grammar books and workbooks, novels, short stories, fairy tales and children’s books. I subscribe to a French news and culture site, watch French movies and follow some French dancers who occasionally post messages in French on their accounts which can be very challenging to translate because they use slang from multiple slang word groups in single sentences. All of the French learning apps seem to be lacking, but teach basics in a variety of ways.

[@cottonlegacy3171]

Me: Ha! Duolingo is totally friendly! I think i will start to use it :) *1 hour later* Duolingo: *TranSlatE thiS SEntenCe * ''Je suis un cheval'' Me: ......

[@luannesbestfriend7]

Et je suis un chat.

[@luannesbestfriend7]

@@facts4now621 I didn't know I had a clone

[@beeboy3679]

Salut! Comment ça va?

[@coolingheat5644]

But i am a horse

[@megazoid6573]

Le chat

[@carolweideman1905]

I study French in school but found if you were not the teacher's pet you were not called on to talk. I learned basic grammar rules and that was it. I found Duolingo when I moved to France 14 years ago. I could not afford at the time courses or private teachers. The only courses I took were the ones offered free by the French Government to make sure I qualified for their visa. When I found Duolingo I found it was a good review of my basic school french. Duolingo has changed over the years for the better in my opinion. I still use it and will continue to use it. What I have found is that each person has to find their own way that suits them best to learn. What works for me may not work for you. So try different programs depending on what you can afford or not afford and see what works for you.

[@salmach5611]

Me: Of course Duolingo is teaching me relevant stuff!! Duolingo: Je suis une mouche

[@salmach5611]

what u saying man, jeeze.. it’s a joke. I love duolingo hahah

[@t-rizzy208]

@Shay Ó Laoghaire exactly 😂

[@yeeeyeee9689]

Un chat et un cheval?

[@DCCCXVII]

Je suis un garçon

[@doof3231]

Im laughing at these comments because ive been learning these for a week on that app😆😆😂 but its nice its fun

[@the_luna_lily6234]

Well I know for a fact it won’t hurt my French... I do German, how did I get to this video?

[@FrenchinPlainSight]

It ranks well for "Duolingo". 🙃

[@margoxathegamer9371]

Ich auch lerne Deutsch und ich bin hier. XD

[@alexisodonahue3858]

I agree we need to get speaking with others, but I totally adore my duolingo! There are a lots of listening exercises now, and the French stories and podcasts. It git me to create a habit of regular practice. Now I also listen to you, french TV shows, everything I can find. They are all part of the whole learning experience. Duolingo gave me a platform to get going, get some feel-good encouragement, and also I love my owl. I put him in a tuxedo! But that doesn't mean I'm not serious about learning. Thanks for your channel as well. All the venues to learn add to our knowledge.

[@calegria]

Why focusing on Duolingo? In general, the problem of not being personalized is the same in all platforms.

[@manoadamro1768]

so he can post 50 affiliate links to alternatives. If Duolingo were paying, he'd be saying how great they are.

[@arctrog]

duo lingo is an excellent teacher for beginners and a supplement for non beginners, using duo lingo helps keep your skills sharp while in lulls

[@Europhile]

My wife and I started learning French during the first lockdown (UK). No possibility of joining a French class. We found it useful as beginners. If it had a British version without all the 'awesome' silliness I would like it more. Now we only use it for the stories - about 10 minutes a day. Still picking up useful sentences. Assimil is good and I've just discovered Alice Ayel's KZbin channel - excellent for listening and expanding vocab. Learning a lot from French in Plain Sight. We will join a class as soon as they open up or maybe try online tuition.

[@LarissaDawn]

4:48 XD I talk to myself in French all the time, only because no one else I know also speaks French or paid attention in school.

[@tsani-bn2bk]

Exact same thing with me, no one I know speaks French, so I mutters phrases all the time and make up conversations with myself.

[@Ryosuke1208]

@@tsani-bn2bk Try describing your day, try describing your that as it were another person other than you, change the things you did to the negative and viceversa. Try to tell a story, try to talk about a subject you like, your family, etc. Write it down first if you want to, but yeah, practice practice practice.

[@JustinArmstrongsite]

In my opinion, it's very important that a language learner takes charge of their learning and develops their own curriculum. Duolingo allows you to not think about what and how you are learning. Show up to the app, and you are "learning" the language. The problem is, at some point, you'll have to leave the app and you won't know what to do. This seems like a problem with language learners who take classes as well. In reality, all you need to learn a language is things to read, things to listen/watch, a dictionary, a flashcard system (optional), a grammar reference and someone to talk to. It blows my mind that people still learn from textbooks after years with the language when they could be learning from the real world. For my own personal goals, I really want to learn to read French novels. Turns out, the vocabulary required is immense. That's why I've only devoted a small amount of time to speaking practice and much more time with reading practice and vocabulary memorization. I don't have a lot of people to talk French in my day-to-day life, so it's a lesser priority for me. I do notice though that the more reading and vocabulary I learn has made it easier and easier to articulate my thoughts when I do speak. At a certain point, I expect my priorities to change and I will do more speaking practice.

[@FrenchinPlainSight]

Yes yes yes. I love this comment Justin. Language learning isn't that complicated if you break it down. Read a lot of stuff, use that stuff. Rinse and repeat. Our traditional approach of "going to French school" is normal, but lazy. I believe underneath everything, at our core, humans are lazy. We need to set ourselves priorities, and once we make language learning a priority we find more time to educate ourselves on the best way to learn rather than just throwing money at a course without thinking about how it can help. Duolingo is a fantastic entry point to language learning and it gets us excited about it. It certainly did for me. But like you say, you don't learn the tools for what to do after you outgrow it. Hiring a teacher to set your curriculum is the same. So many expats in France don't have great French, but, nevertheless, they improve because it's inevitably part of most conversations. Whether it be a joke about a word, something embarassing about their pronunciation in front of a French colleague... It becomes part of life. Have you heard of bilingual books for language learners? I used one for the Petit Prince and I know there are a lot of these out there. They could really help you with your goals www.amazon.com/Little-Prince-French-English-Bilingual/dp/0956721591. Merci de prendre le temps pour laisser un commentaire !

[@JustinArmstrongsite]

@@FrenchinPlainSight I actually just finished reading Le Petit Prince. Great book, lots of interesting vocabulary to learn.

[@Ryosuke1208]

My case is the total opposite from yours I'm focusing on the listening/speaking skills even though I have very few people to speak with. Besides, the sexiest part of the language is to hear it spoken :) Although I would like to get reading skills someday.

[@christopheoyewusi1899]

@@FrenchinPlainSight you should say : merci de prendre le temps de laisser un commentaire !

[@bryanatl]

I can certainly see where your coming from (it's funny that I saw this video today after seeing you). Having moved to France and only being able to say the basic greetings as someone who needed (and needs to) learn French ASAP I can understand your point. If there was something like a "boot camp" for people who need to learn a language fast that would certainly do the best. Mostly I use Duo for improving my listening, more than for speaking (that's a longer story that would only put people to sleep). For speaking it's a matter of stumbling through the day to day and hoping I don't make a fool out of myself and if I do hoping that the person is patient enough to help me. I've been to several of the language exchanges, and they seem to mostly be dominated by English speakers who end up speaking English the whole time which is nice in that I understand everything, but defeats the purpose for which I went.

[@FrenchinPlainSight]

The key with the language exchanges is to make sure you get your quota of practice, regardless of the English around you. You'll feel proud for sticking it out for that hour or 2. When I started going to the group exchanges it was the same. I tried to have one or two conversations with a native there, and keep away from the group that only seemed to want to speak English.

[@mackjay1777]

Good points. I used Duolingo for several months, learning another language (Hungarian, extremely different from French). I did encounter the things you point out. I can say, though, that I picked up vocabulary from the incessant way it brings up common words, and re-uses them in different ways. A big limitation for me was that it really never delved into grammar. I tried the French version and found it similar in that same, very elementary way. But as you also say, it makes language more "fun" with the scores, and encouraging comments. It's good for an extreme beginner, but after that, it's just good for some quick practice while riding the subway, for example. Grammar in a new language can be challenging, as much vocabulary is. Duolingo seems to try to make learning 'easy' and "fun", but we need to use the language (hear it, speak it whenever possible....there is no substitute for those things)

[@spaizemunkie4397]

I agree and disagree with your points. I live in France. I've got something like 1790 day streak... I learn something every single day. It's not my only method and I use other ways to learn and practice French. I do find it limiting for the reasons you point out but... I'm dyslexic and Duolingo helps me remember spelling and grammar. Often when I've been speaking with my friends and I've forgotten word structures or vocab, I have a visual image of it in my head to fall back on grâce à Duolingo. We're all different but I need to see language in my head to help me speak better 😀

[@tracysevolution]

I as an introvert Duolingo fit perfectly into my life in the beginning. However, you are right, it hasn't helped with my speaking at all. I moved to FR about a year ago to study and man haven't i suffered! I love the app and I still do daily practices but my speaking is still horrible. I will give credit where it is due, my reading and listening is great thanks to it and I can translate on a fly but I just stay mum when its my turn to speak or hide behind : ''Parlez vous anglais par hasard, Mme/M?''

[@FrenchinPlainSight]

Thank you for watching all the way through. It teaches habits without you realising, some of which hinder us when we reach a certain level. The main thing I want people to take away is to be honest with themselves and own the process they follow, and that will give them greater chance of succeeding in reaching a high level in all 4 skills.

[@czas4]

Tracy how's your speaking now? I'm also learning French and I'd love if you give me movies/children cartoons that speak slow French recommendations.... Or just tips you learned from your study of the language.

[@coolingheat5644]

I cant wait to go somewhere so i can find people who are also horses

[@MichelleGarcia-ks2tf]

hi im sorry to ask but what’s the app name you used? “FR”?

[@Khalagessyca]

@@MichelleGarcia-ks2tf fr is France

[@jacmorales5314]

Thank you for the video, but I don't agree with you. I respectfully I disagree. Duolingo is at least a good start. Some of us can not go or live in a French speaking country like you.

[@FrenchinPlainSight]

It is a good start for those who haven't learned a language before. I agree. But once you get to intermediate level you'll find that a lot of the vocab isn't useful. Apps like Memrise or Drops are better and more designed for efficient learning. You don't have to live in a French speaking country to realise it. But, at the end of the day, the most important thing is that you feel like you progress when you use it!

[@jacmorales5314]

You are right, thank you for the reply. I learn a lot from you. Keep the good work.@@FrenchinPlainSight

[@cesaugusto108]

@@FrenchinPlainSight Duolingo is a tool. I think that you are trying to tell people that once you have accomplished the task that you are supposed to do with that tool, you'll need another. Drops is really useful to expand vocabulary. Duolingo gives a general overview of the language and helps to build a habit to study/practice everyday. Problem is people long for one solution for everything and that is not reality. You have to get yourself out there in the real world. And furthermore, real language is not always predictable, "correct", limited - speakers get creative, even natives make "mistakes" and so on.

[@gaoshikui88]

I don't like the notion of rushing people into speaking. I'm fluent in Korean now after learning it for 6 years, but I didn't speak much at all until about 2-3 years in. I just didn't have the grammar and vocabulary to have any meaningful conversations. The same repetitive conservations about myself, them, the weather etc got boring very quick. I think it's perfectly fine to spend a year on duolingo and not practise conversation, so long as you are practising talking (to yourself) and improving your pronunciation and intonation.

[@ModestTiger]

Doulingo: Do your french. Me : No Doulingo : I end your family. me :OK, OK ILL DO IT Doulingo: Always works ;)

[@Montes88r]

Doulingo has changed dramatically in the last year. It way better now

[@FrenchinPlainSight]

Gotta review it!

[@tomasoriada3623]

Oh dear, then it must have been absolutely awful a year ago if you find its current iteration acceptable. It actually STOPPED me from learning Dutch by continually trying to to get me to repeat basics that I mastered years ago rather than letting me advance through to my actual level of proficiency in the language - let alone learn ANYTHING! It’s an awful tool, don’t touch it!

[@ivosiliprandi5994]

I'm serious about learning french, but I've started from scratch 6 days ago, duo is really a great resource to improve ur vocabulary and general notion of structures and sounds until the B1. So it was kind of rude for u to describe a person who isn't taking it seriously just because she started with duolingo.

[@FrenchinPlainSight]

That's not what I'm saying at all. If you started from scratch 6 days ago, this video isn't for you.

[@Enigma19]

Hello, I liked your video. I started learning french about 2 weeks ago and I have found Duolingo quite useful. I have also used other things with it like language learning podcasts, watching Netflix in french audio/subtitles, only listening to french music. In sum, I think you are correct about Duolingo but I can’t discredit it’s it has helped with vocabulary, memory and sentence structure

[@EmorettaRobinson]

I saw a KZbin ad possibly last year of a man who said that he learned to speak Frence after moving to France. I thought I screen shot the info and website but couldn't find it. So I googled it and you look similar to him. I'm hoping that it was you. He gave examples of french words that you wouldn't use. And then gave the correct words to use. I've heard of Rosetta Stone, Duolingo, Babel and Pimsleur. I've thought of using the first one that I mentioned. Though there's two things that concern me. 1. I want to travel to both France and Montreal. I don't want to offend anyone by not speaking the language correctly. But I've heard that French spoken in France and French spoken in Montreal is similar but not the same. 2. I've taken Spanish classes and didn't get very far. Two people who grew up speaking Spanish dropped out of the class weeks before I did. But one of the teachers said that it was best to speak Spanish first before you speak French. She believed it would be much more difficult to learn French first and the attempt to learn to speak French. I spoke Spanish as a child. My goal is to learn to speak a number of different languages fluently. I'm hoping that I've found the right person and channel? So I thought that I'd leave a comment in the hopes of a response.

[@FrenchinPlainSight]

Hi Emoretta. I already replied to you by email (delayed, I apologise) addressing some of these points. A quick reply here to say that there are many many apps and tools competing for your attention, and promising you fluency. The fact is, learning a language takes a lot of time and commitment. What I recommend is you pick one or two resources that promote speaking and listening from the start and you commit to them for a number of months. Don't get distracted by new things. Keep the faith and you WILL see results. Don't worry about nuances between Quebecois and French from France if you only have a short time before you travel. Pick one and stick to it. Preferably French from France because it's more universally understood. If you're thinking of moving to Quebec, then choosing to learn Quebecois French is a more valid choice. You can do this! Every single action you take for your French takes you forward. Just try not to get caught up in the thinking. I do it too, and it's best just to draw the line and take action :). I hope this helps. Alex

[@sixgungene]

Duolingo DOES have free speaking events. I attend several per week.

[@_melts]

A refresh of this review would be interesting! I've come back to Duo after doing classes up to B1 level and have found it's changed tremendously and is a good supplement to a full language course. I wonder how it stacks up for new learners these days, for example there are speaking questions now and more helpful tips, etc.

[@horatiotodd8723]

This video isnt that relavent anymore, duolingo has improved so much

[@Bazza5000]

I think Duolingo is useful even though I officially have a B2 level in French. I may have a C1 level. I am benefiting because it's helping me with certain gaps when it comes to my grammar, but I also use Memrise and listen to French music. I use Memrise much more than Duolingo. I also use French readers. I consider myself a serious learner and will continue with Duolingo. I don't use it as my only tool. Some of it is relevant.

[@Ricardo-hm1dl]

now Duolingo has a podcast which is very useful

[@robbiejangles]

My problem is my Canadian French vs duo's France French. I already know how to speak it. I'm brushing up on my reading and writing skills with it because my son is going to a full French school and I want to help him as much as I can. But the fact it doesn't have a quebecois French really frustrates me. For example. "et c'est quoi ton nom" Is the same as " et comment tu t'appelles. " I'll type the first one and it says I'm wrong. But I'm not. It's just like " slang " they don't have that. They don't cut the language down, there's many different ways to say the same thing and it doesn't address that. There's many ways to shorten each sentence down. They don't accept it. So, In my opinion it's an okay app. I would definitely not recommend it for someone going to Quebec. But for sure France. Duolingo doesn't have Quebec French. That's all.

[@FactsMatter]

2023 comment. I agree entirely with the premise of this video, but the examples cited are not the reasons why. I am a fluent French speaker learning Spanish with Duolingo. I went to the French side to see what the material was because I questioned the Duolingo methodology, and I was shocked to see that the Duolingo "curriculum" is extremely rigid. And, often, sadly, words that Duolingo insist on are not even the correct word. For example, "choqué" is the word Duolingo wants for "shocked." It is not the correct translation. Choqué is "angry" like fâché. Worse, in the context of "working hard", Duolingo demands "travailler dur". That's ridiculous. On travaille "fort". And their use of "sur" instead of "à propos de" when discussing "on" a certain subject matter is also horribly wrong. So they can claim alignment with CEFR all they like, but reality is different. Also, in translation, there are many ways to say the same thing - Duolingo is extremely inflexible.

[@danielboardman8611]

I am an absolute beginner in French so, at this point, DuoLingo is very helpful and convenient. However, I am also taking face-to-face classes, listening to a French podcast and, for conversation practice, I just hired an online tutor who is a native French speaker. From reaching a high level of fluency in a prior language (Spanish) I am aware that a multi-faceted and balanced approach is necessary. I've seen people practice conversation daily but, lacking an understanding of grammar and syntax, go year after year sounding clumsy and childlike. I've also seen the opposite, people with years of academic study who fail to have the breakthrough that allows them to think and converse naturally and freely. In no particular order, here are some of the things that helped me reach fluency and comfort with Spanish, in addition to face-to-face classes: 1. Beginning when I was at an intermediate level, I switched all of my casual reading to Spanish. This meant I had to back up and start with children's books but eventually I progressed to adult non-fiction. 2. I switched the location of my daily business interactions (bank, grocery store, butcher, restaurants, etc...) so that I could conduct these interactions only in Spanish. I live in the southwest US, so this is possible. Might be more difficult where you live. 3. I did a number of inexpensive total immersion schools in Latin America. Very helpful and fun.

[@cherie0882]

My biggest issue with duolingo is there is no way to deactivate the writing feature. Most time I care about speaking, understanding oral language, and maybe reading. Very little interest in writing. I already write French very well, but who wants to learn a whole new alphabet to write Russian. Not me. I just want to impress my friend's Ukrainian parents with a few phrases and maybe understand what they are saying.

[@lillian5353]

I've been learning French since I was a little child in grade school. And I've been re learning the same thing over again every year in each grade. Now I'm in uni and French seems very easy to me bc I've been exposed to it for so many years, learning the same thing practically. But yes duo is great for a refresher and the foundation, but you need actual textbooks or classes to speak fluently, not just translate je suis un cheval

[@ousamalusasa8943]

“le cheval boit du lait”😂😂😂😂😂

[@lillian5353]

@@ousamalusasa8943 honestly. Le cheval mange l'orange like wtf is that?

[@jeffryphillipsburns]

I’ve known all sorts of people who’ve gone through the B.A. language sequence in college (typically four semesters of a single language), and not a single one of them is anywhere near to fluent in the language he studied. I even know people with undergraduate degrees in French who aren’t anywhere near fluent. A textbook alone (or with a class) simply ain’t a-gonna cut it. So how CAN you become fluent? As far as I can tell, you have to a) live a few years in the country where the language is spoken or b) be very unusually strongly motivated or c) be a genius. Everyone I ever known who became fluent in a foreign language did or was one of the above.

[@xtaylorxxtaylorx2026]

what textbooks do your recommend

[@gabbyikpefua]

​@@lillian5353 Wdym the dog is eating the orange what's wrong with that bruh?

[@matildawolfram4687]

Good video! My brother studied languages at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in California. The pace of study was intense. Students had to master the language course in 36-64 weeks. Psychologically it was very difficult, but fortunately he was helped by Yuriy Ivantsiv's book "Polyglot Notes. Practical tips for learning foreign languages”. The book " Polyglot Notes" became a desk book for my brother, because it has answers to all the problems that any student of a foreign language has to face. Thanks to the author of the channel for this interesting video! Good luck to everyone who studies a foreign language and wants to realize their full potential!

[@MsClaudiaDuran]

"Duolingo may be a good supplementary tool, although I wouldn't recommend it. However, if you want to practice sentences, Duolingo is great. I don't recommend it. It does have its place. Don't use it, but you can. Or don't. Or do."

[@margoxathegamer9371]

Basically the whole video

[@TolgaOksay]

I really do not agree with you. Six years ago I started studying Italian on Duolingo , after about seven months later I went to Italy and well I was able to communicate to anyone without problems, obviously learning a language should not only consist of Duolingo, because speaking with local people is what helps the most, however to be able to start that step Duolingo is really essential. PS: right now my italian is my second best spoken language and usually people just think that I’m italian

[@ZanderNH]

You have to remember most of these language youtubers are trying to sell you their services or are sponsored by competitors to duolingo. Duolingo is great to get you that solid foundation in a language; where you can understand native speakers and they can understand you in turn. That's the point of learning a language - mutually intelligible communication. People are over-complicating things just for video views and/or selling an alternative product. TLDR: Just do your duolingo tree and start watching series/movies and listening to the news in that language.

[@schweinhund7966]

You make some excellent points but I believe Duolingo is still an OUTSTANDING vehicle to learn "some" foreign languages at the beginner level and maintaining it at the intermediate level. (I found Chinese and Japanese useless since there was no explanation as to "why" things are as they are.) As a senior citizen I find Duolingo excellent for learning PROVIDED I have no questions. I had 2 years of French in 1973-74 (this is typed in 2019) and Duolingo has usually been pretty easy, fun and super-flexible for an adult learner not in a classroom. Having learned Spanish as an adult and being "forced" to speak it I see the huge flaw for Duolingo because there is no meaningful speaking practice and having submitted myself to their current French speaking exercises, sometimes I slur like a drunk and I still get credit, other times I believe it is flawless and I still get evaluated as "wrong." Having lived in Korea, Germany, Panama, Chile and Honduras I have learned to get along with minimal local language since I generally live in those places for 1 year. I have found several things to be extremely helpful when speaking French: (1) When I need to get along in English without frustrating French that I am an "ugly English-only" speaker I say, "Je ne parle pas francias. Je parle espanol et anglais. Parlez vous espanol ou anglais? Even on the metro in Paris people went to English without prejudice. Once in Chamonix the lady opted for Spanish and we spoke in Spanish. The point is you are proving you are not an "ugly English only" speaker. 2. When French speakers (or Spanish) break into English I speak back to them in French (or Spanish) until things get too fast. I have never found someone to be rude or impatient when I struggle to speak their language. 3. I NEVER use "tu." Despite my age, using vous is acceptable and polite where I have seen people use "tu" inappropriately. If the other individual asks me to use "tu" then I go to tu, otherwise ALWAYS 'vous" even with persons decades younger than me.....it seems to be taken as respect if not the epitome of politeness. I do the same in Spanish. The amount of respect returned is noteworthy. 4. I watched you show on Apple TV and NEVER saw your links to other Apps and learning. In fact coming here to provide comments, I cannot find those links here either! That is FRUSTRATING! 5. I enjoyed your video but did not give a thumbs up or a thumbs down. It impressed me as passionate but mediocre for objectiveness and practical use. Chase your passions and do your best.

[@FrenchinPlainSight]

Thank you Chuck for your argument on the topic. You've experience more cultures and languages than many of us get to. I appreciate you keeping it so well-balanced. Regarding the links in the description, I'm sorry for the frustration. I have two linked about half way down the description: Memrise and Language Drops, as far as apps go. Merci pour la motivation et les vœux. Je vous souhaite la même chose !

[@schweinhund7966]

French in Plain Sight The links DO show on the iPhone but did not on Apple TV or a desktop Mac Computer. That is a technology issue, not you, just keep in mind many viewers watch your videos on Apple TV. I have seen some videos place the links below the speaker in the actual show. Best wishes for success in future videos.

[@jhm5497]

yeah Ive realized this recently, the other thing that frustrates me is the application focus mostly formal french. It hardly ever uses "On" and always "nous" for example. It rarely makes sentences how the french actually speak

[@ellisdp]

Some fair points. I think Duolingo is good for getting started and learning the basics of a language, but you can get stuck in a mode where you are using it by rote, and not learning much. I am using it currently for German, which is at a much lower level than my French. But even so I feel that it's become more about the "gamification" - completing lessons to keep a "streak" going, or to keep a place in the "league", or to get the circles to change colour in a tidy fashion - rather than about how much you're learning. With the frustrating "Crowns" system that they introduced a few years ago, you feel you have to go back and repeat lessons multiple times to get them to a consistent level, even when you don't learn anything, which takes a lot of time. And all that said, I have been doing this for a couple of years, and I still can't really understand any real written or spoken fragments of German I come across on social media, so to that extent it "hasn't worked" for me in terms of meeting my objectives. But then I wonder why you have listed "Memrise" as one of your recommended tools for language learning - isn't that similar in that it offers courses of fixed content, in a "gamified" style app, with no customised content? And I have tried a couple of times and found Memrise harder to get on with than Duolingo.

[@DCDan_]

Good point about getting vocab you can use. I wonder If duo add a feature to tailor vocabulary by setting family and vocation preferences.

[@czas4]

Duolingo Basics : Tu es un cheval ? Travel: Duo est vert (I'll continue to love you Duolingo 😂)

[@coolingheat5644]

I am a horse

[@moving3999]

Je suis un cheval

[@MeanderingMeagan4]

Do you have a particular lesson/resource/tip to learn the French "R"? Currently my speaking struggle.

[@candletabletop154]

you gotta just learn it stop being WEAK

[@sakurabandi]

Just try to say "h" + "x" instead of "R"

[@googlegoogler6694]

Great advice. I’ve been using Duolingo for a while but it’s not been helpful at all with speaking. It has helped build vocabulary and reading comprehension. I enjoy Duolingo’s stories. Thanks for the Drops link I will check that out. At what point did things click for you during your study of French that helped you with speaking? Your French pronunciation sounds excellent.

[@FrenchinPlainSight]

De rien. I'm not sure there was one "eureka" moment but many. It's all about getting our of your comfort zone. One thing that helped, looking back, was realising how little I could actually say when I took on my first private teacher. That forced me not to shy away from it in the future, even though is was then months before I changed anything I was doing. Then, coming to France, I was in the supermarket and I couldn't find the eggs. I walked around the whole shop 3 or 4 times thinking and practicing the words I'd use to ask the shop assistant (thankfully, I didn't find the eggs on my several tours and give myself an excuse). I asked the question, he didn't show a shred of surprise/shock/disdain for the foreigner asking terrible in French, and just showed me where they were. This moment always sticks in my head for the first time I used French without a safety net of a friend or a language learning environment. I was in the wild. Then it was just several months of uphill walking through the mud, haha! Language learning is a lifelong exercise in personal development. It teaches you to be comfortable with uncomfortable situations, so that you become a stronger, more confident version of yourself. It's taught me to focus on the positives and recognise the little wins, because there's no finish line, unless you set yourself one. If you're someone who relishes challenges rather than constantly berates yourself for little mistakes that in the long run won't matter, you'll get used to the discomfort a lot faster. I am the former, but I'm working on it all the time :). I've learned to love the process and the good feeling speaking to natives brings. Every day brings another challenge. Thank you for the compliment about my pronunciation. The truth is, on that aspect, I'm lucky because I seem to have a natural ability for that part of the language. Good luck and don't hesitate to let me know anything else in particular you'd like to see on the channel!

[@scottherf]

The stories are brilliant.

[@novelero03]

I just came across your channel for the first time and I loved it! I just subscribed. I started learning French two weeks ago (I got Duolingo, Memrise and Drop for starters) and so far it has been really helpful to begin learning the French language. Yet, I agree with you 100%, if you want to become fluent, you have to go beyond the popular apps and really dive into the language and lose the fear of making mistakes. Those apps, I only view them as supports because once you grow, you need more challenging, more authentic materials and you need to communicate as much as you can. I am a Spanish teacher and I am bilingual in English and Spanish (both at the C2 levels or Distinguished here in the US), so this will be my third language. Thank you for sharing your content, it is going to definitely help me for sure!

[@FrenchinPlainSight]

Thank you for watching the whole thing and getting my point! Your words read like someone who has already learned a language, I can tell, even if you hadn't said that French is your third. I think that learning French as a first foreign language, it's impossible to know if Duolingo is the best for you, hence why I get a lot of comments disagreeing with me.

[@MalluStyleMultiMedia]

I love Duolingo short stories and podcasts ...maybe because I like change and each story is different..

[@FrenchinPlainSight]

When I made this I don't think stories and the podcast existed. I reviewed stories here if you're interested kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4q5hZyNi6-nmpY

[@xxxqwertxxx]

Lol People love hating on duo lingo. It’s a great introduction to a language for beginners. It may not be your cup of tea, but it’s a valuable resource for some, and it serves a purpose. Even if it’s just getting people interested in learning a language. It’s a great gateway. Every language learning method and resource has its place.

[@gravesilk322]

Duolingo is great for learning languages!! You just need to have way more resources and need to revise and practise.

[@bzylarisa]

I'm a serious learner, and I'm glad I've been using Duolingo for a few years. I'm not a beginner level anymore, but I'm still using it every day. It just suits my style and I enjoy it very much. I understand what you want to say, but I guess your focus is speaking and having a real conversation, so it just doesn't fit well with Duolingo. As for me, I'm those who study first and speak later, lol. Duolingo has been evolving and if you speak English, the lessons will be very well-developed, so I wouldn't say no to the app. It's all about HOW you use it. It can make a difference. I'm not saying Duolingo is a perfect app that makes you fluent, no app is. Of course, I use other apps and materials. But why not to use Duolingo if you find it useful. If you don't like it, of course, you don't have to use it at all. Do what you like because what it works differs from a person to person.

[@gefen314]

I find duolingo a really good tool to get started. After you finish the tree you have a basic grasp of the language and you can start learning in other ways. For me I prefer learning grammar and vocabulary in other ways( like KZbin) while using duolingo in the same time.

[@m-sa4335]

Hi there, It has almost 200 units. How long do you think that it takes to finish all levels and what do you suggest besides of Duolingo for a completely beginner one?

[@michaelwhite1322]

I agree with you. I initially enjoyed DuoLingo and I marched right up many league levels. But one day I said enough. I had come to loathe my time with it. It was so silly, required so much repetition, and just was not helping me move along. It did teach me what an owl was in French, however. :-/

[@FrenchinPlainSight]

Un hibou, ou une chouette ? :)

[@michaelwhite1322]

@@FrenchinPlainSight Une chouette, un hibou sans d'aigrettes sur la tête. I now also see that "vielle chouette" is slang for an old harridan. :-/

[@cf2994]

Agree! Duo also seems attached to US English. Has felt very clumsy to an English/Australian.

[@elipotter369]

I started with Duolingo 3 years ago. I got half way through and deleted it 6 months ago. They changed it so there was more,very pedantic repetition. I used it for pronunciation, by replaying and other tricks to maximize the breadth of usage (not just getting points). I read reviews on it & found out the limitations (people were doing the entire course assuming they would be "fluent" by the end). It was inefficient, but seemed a good starter. I read text books, also inefficient, but now I use one current book, for some reviewing & to work through a level (A1). I use a grammar book for reference & used the CD for pronunciation. Tried a class, the students were not serious (I went in at the second intake after 8 week beginners). Now I am using KZbin & podcasts and studying to improve comprehension & listening. It's easy to say talk to people, but everyone I meet is either super advanced or hideous at pronouncing and not serious about learning.

[@uynayz9157]

In the video you were kinda talking like its for more then french lessons or is it just french? because im not learning frnech and came across this randomly

[@BGTuyau]

"You need to take control of your learning," pretty much sums up the most effective approach to the subject.

[@78SR]

Duo premium added speaking practice and listening practice which you can use all day! My accent, rhythm and fluidity have greatly increased due to the changes in Duo. I still don’t quite sound like people in French interviews and tv shows but I’m getting there. It seems that all the French detective series make prolific use of "on y va" but never "allons-y" and the French hip hop dancers whom I follow usually say "let’s go!" (Modern hip-hop has been mainly a French phenomenon, but the roots are American and most French hip-hop danseurs aspire to global recognition.) I am searching for a more comprehensive serious language program mourning the fact that I can’t sign up for scheduled live classes because my life is hectic and the time I find to study every day varies considerably. I might stick with Duo while learning French on a different app. I’m tired of having to sort out grammar by myself and have invested in books that teach French too, as well as countless story books and novels. I am concerned about the quality of French I am learning and Duo’s frustratingly appalling English translations and arbitrary vocabulary choices. Duo could be quite a bit more generous with vocabulary words. I didn’t understand why you wanted to narrow down vocabulary instead of merely expanding it, but I suppose if you are interested in only specific terminology for very specific fields and don’t want to know about your colleagues personal lives your point matters. I’d want to know to know everything about medical terminology if I had a child in the hospital in France. I was very glad to see someone criticizing Duolingo online because it is so popular and, in my opinion, so misleading to some degree. Anyone who has a serious interest in the French language is more or less on their own to find resources that suit them. Apps can only take you so far.

[@prathibhahm7236]

Thank u so much....I am using duolingo with 100% focus from 10 days. I am glad that I saw this video before I got addicted to it blindly .

[@seraphemcamille]

I feel like it's worth mentioning that the french questions are phrased like "tu prends la pizza?" which isn't fully accurate, I've never seen "est ce que" or inversion used in their questions.

[@FrenchinPlainSight]

On that I might agree with Duolingo. The statement form of question is the most common on everyday life and so it's pragmatic to get lots of repetition with it.

[@PinkiePirate]

A lot of this is untrue now. The new setup really truly teaches French, with over 100 large units on tho info I didn’t know I ever spoke in English.

[@Ana-jq9qy]

Duolingo is just a part of the learning process. Duolingo plus KZbin plus practice plus movies/music and one day you wake up with a croissant in your hand and a perfect French accent.

[@m-sa4335]

Thanks it’s really motivating

[@chuckitaway466]

Im pretty sure that after completing duolingo french tree, i would instil some basic neural pathways. From there making further connections to spoken french should be attainable. Although french people at this stage are basically incomprehensible due to fact the language sounds are all wack. This is a matter of getting used to it. Tuning the ear. At least duolingo motivates me to keep going. I am recognizing words and phrases in french movies, and many french words that exist in the english language. Overall i think i am making progress. I do think your point is valid that the spoken will not be as snappy, but maybe other people have goals of being able to read and write in french for business or academic purposes and this skill is by no means worthless.

[@elrevah]

As a French native speaker I'm hearing to him to learn better English because he's got a perfect British diction, I understand everything he says and that is really satisfying :)

[@andresdg9321]

I think that duolingo is just one aditional tool (a good one), we must use different tools for learning. I would not discart it. Like i said before it's a complement.

[@timothymutunga2255]

Your observation and comment are good, but I am finding it quite helpful actually...and this comes after a year of learning french online. I'm not really a fun of its machine pronunciations but the repetitions make sense when I don't live in a place where people speak French. Honestly, 3 months of Duolingo have helped me improve my confidence in the language, especially the podcasts. J'aime Duolingo!

[@FrenchinPlainSight]

It's a tool. I just meant that if you want to get serious about speaking then Duolingo should not be your primary tool.

[@TheCMLion]

I try a number of different programs. They all help in small ways. I find repeating everything they say in Duolingo helps. Then again, I have ears of stone and my pronunciation is generally poor. I'm not a huge fan, but it gets me to practice every day. I don't like Drops that much. They throw out phrases with no real understanding of what I'm saying. The only reason I know what they're talking about is because of Duolingo. Always interesting watching your videos!

[@FrenchinPlainSight]

If you like a tool, keep using it. How you feel whilst learning is just as important as the method you're using. Self-awareness is huge in your efforts to be successful.

[@judithtaylor6916]

Partially agree. There is very limited scope for verbal practice with Duolingo. It has the limitation to have expanded verbal practice. But it has helped in widening my knowledge of french words. But my on the spot recall of french words to hold a conversation, holds me back from practicing to speak french. Not that I can practice with anyone. Living in a non-French speaking country, it is even harder. Australia had french in the 1970s school system. But was replaced with German, Indonesian and Mandarin.

[@baritonebynight]

I just started Duolingo three weeks on the advice of a French teacher I work with. I studied French in high school, college and music school so I'm not a complete beginner.....but the information was very rusty. Duolingo doesn't teach grammar....and I've had to dig out my college textbooks and look on youtube to figure out why I was making mistakes (when to use du vs au or en or y and do/io placements). The vocabulary is coming back quickly as are the verb conjugations. However, it has been a great help in getting the rust out of the brain. This summer I'm going to an immersion language program in France and staying with a host family. I'm scared to death but its the only way that I will ever get comfortable doing it. I love the stories in Duolingo and the listening examples.....I could care less about the gaming aspect of it.

[@iantwizell799]

Just stopped Duo 2.5 yrs since I started seriously with French. It was great as a beginner but it was time to say au revoir. After the first 6 months of Duo only I had a trip to Caen and the locals didnt understand me - I started at Italki as soon as I got back from that trip. The last year with Duo I was more interested in where I was on the leaderboard than how my French was progressing. On-y-va!!!

[@musochickburns8212]

Thé problem with Duo is that it takes way too long and to only reach beginner level. I completed English - French, then I thought it will probably be useful to reverse that and learnt French - English. I gave up on that after a while because I struggled to understand it in French after a certain level. 1 year later I went back to revise my vocabulary and choose from any part of the tree. My boyfriend is French and I ask him often which answer is correct and why and he often tells me that they're all wrong and this method of learning is hindering my ability to use real French. So, coming from a French speaker, it's not worth it. I'm using Reverso at the moment and love that you can look up phrasal verbs and idioms! It's much more efficient to watch KZbin or anything in your targeted language (French) with French subtitles activated and when you don't understand something look it up on an app like Reverso. Wordreference is also excellent for this. I hate that I wasted YEARS on Duolingo. It doesn't help you use spoken French in the real world. You get lost in conversation very quickly.

[@cmolodiets]

This video was not sponsored by duolingo

[@fredpourlesintimes]

When I listen to your discourse, I can make a comparison : In web development, even if we quickly learn the most useful languages, we don't learn all the stuff by heart. In fact, we learn what we really need to use. It's like a focus learning, step by step, for increasing our knowledge and practice. And (artistic) creation is probably the most efficient way to enhance our achievements; to make them alive. And yes my english is terrible, but I don't care; I'm french :D

[@FrenchinPlainSight]

Haha. That's funny. I was a web developer before ;)

[@sydneywellington22]

I don't think that anybody believes that Duolingo is the equivalent of a University Class. Of course, it's for a general perspective about a language. Any serious student uses many tools.

[@abcd-hw8io]

Oh No, language course in English speaking universities are so bad that I can learn more from duolingo. LOL. It doesn’t mean Duolingo is bad, it just mean the university courses are a lot worse.

[@archeacnos]

I personally see duolingo as an app you should only use if you know you won't ever make any efforts to start learning a new language, and so duolingo actually is the only way you can start because you don't feel like you are working and you don't have to look for new vocabulary by yourself, so it feels like it's an automatic thing

[@bleau9584]

Hi Alex! Will you please make a more updated video on your opinion on Duolingo? I’ve been learning some more French during lockdown and I believe they may have added some new features? Such as the storytelling feature, the chance to speak and sound words out, and some exercises imitate conversations! But not as much as Babbel. Also would you recommend anymore free Language Tips/ Apps etc for learning french s’il vous plaît? Merci (:

[@ellakou]

So I was broke my diet today. Duolingo: Je mange beaucoup I am sorry but why is the cat eating the pizza.

[@_maisesu_]

I studied french in secondary and college therefore, I do know the basic and some specific topics related to my life. Once, I started using Duo lingo it is more like a recap on what I already know which is good for a refreshment. Therefore, I dont think I learn anything new. Plus it is more like a memories game as you lost your heart every time you make a mistake and the solution was too vague improve your mistake.

[@baronmeduse]

Duolingo ends up as a rut for most people. The thing designed to keep motivation alive - the gaming element - often becomes the focus as people log in to merely keep the streak alive and do the easiest thing possible to achieve that. I agree you should start speaking *as soon as possible*. Just so long as people recognise what *as possible* means. It doesn't necessarily mean speaking from the get-go, or speaking after 2, 3 ,4 months etc. It means when you feel ready. The Benny 3 months view is not universally relevant. On the whole it's probably best to start as soon as, because the hill you have to climb is then already started. However if you start too soon the shock of failure can really set you back.

[@StrangeMeadowLark]

Duo is useful as a way of easily practising (especially the beginner stuff) and to keep the language 'alive' in our heads every day for those of us not in a French country. But it simply cannot be one's only or even main tool for learning - you have to speak in order to *use* the language you're learning, by improvising and thinking on your feet (in a conversation), as challenging as that is, to then embed what you've learnt and build up those neurons in your brain. The more you try to remember (what you've learnt) the more you will remember. What's also encouraging is to have a definite time frame - five years to reach C1! What *exactly* did you do??

[@charles7729]

You should say that duolingo is not enough to be fluent in a language but not that is for non serious learners

[@nitram_nosnibor]

Totally agree 100%, I stopped using it a couple of months ago and I paid for it about 4 weeks before!! Not a happy bunny but we live and learn.

[@sploomfussy]

everyone is always mocking the sentence options, but do anyone of you even try to look at anything else, like the tips explaining grammar, the stories, and the podcasts?? lmao I also think these tips aren't that duolingo specific. You shouldn't be relying on ANY app, textbooks, or anything. you gotta combine stuff If you're not using the resources properly then that is also a you problem

[@Mr_Valentin.]

Am using duolingo just to expand my grammar

[@tnt-kf7zd]

Hey man, the fact that it is irrelevant is the very reason I am using doulingo. Most of what you are saying is true though. It teaches you something in a fun way. If it wasn't for duolingo I would have never started learning French in the first place. That fact that it enabled me to speak french is priceless. I am still trying to pay duolingo for it. But it doesn't accpet my payments for a reason that is unknown to me. Now I am studying another language for no reason. Whenever I am bored I open duolingo and it cheers me up for 5 minutes :)

[@FrenchinPlainSight]

Then continue by all means :)

[@78SR]

I need to point out that Duolingo’s phone app is the best for speaking French,although it speaking practice is also available on the app. The browser version of Duolingo does not yet offer speaking practice, but it’s great for cutting and pasting helpful tidbits from some of the wiser users in the forums. ‘Cause, you know, with Duo you have create your own textbook.

[@spoondo6003]

I'm using Duolingo to hone my french skills while learning it along my french lessons in school, Its paying off on my grades so that's all I'm looking for.

[@amazingcommenter]

As a previous Korean learner I agree but I'm casually learning French while not in France, Duolingo keeps me picking it up in bits.

[@klaralovse4656]

What about the new update?

[@gsalehi1942]

Thanks for the information, my comments are for French version believe if one uses all the tools on the App, ( instruction, stories, conversation -Paul and estell) itt is a good starter! I wish Duolingo had an instruction manual to guide thru and explain how to use the tools. I find the podcast very beneficial for listening

[@Coquillages]

So by your logic, I shouldn’t learn the word ‘sisters’ because I only have brothers so it’s not relevant to me.....I sure hope I don’t meet anyone that wants to talk about their sister! Duolingo is teaching the most common words in the language. They’re needed whether or not they’re relevant to you

[@FrenchinPlainSight]

I'm saying to use common sense. Like don't learn about flower pots if you can barely talk about yourself with confidence. It often does not teach the most common words. However, it may have improved since I made this video a year ago.

[@jeffryphillipsburns]

@@FrenchinPlainSight If Duolingo bombarded one with technical terms from horticulture, this might be a valid criticism, but It doesn’t do that. Duolingo proffers a basic vocabulary everyone should learn whether they care about flower parts or not.

[@Liofa73]

This dude just wants us to spend more watching him. I’ll stick with Duolingo. Besides this video is 3 years old. Duolingo has changed a lot now.

[@soniachipoloni]

I agree with you, it happened the same to me trying to learn German.

[@sameerhafeez7029]

Duolingo totally depends on one's passion of learning, if you're not passionate not even the best French teacher can teach you

[@jbradley4242]

Good suggestions, but duo lingo is only supposed to take you to a B1 level at best. This video is like being surprised that a car can't fly you to the moon. Why not just make a video for people who are at the B1 level with the same tips and tricks, without framing it as though duo lingo is ineffective for a purpose it's not even designed for?

[@drbs2850]

Duolingo should be used as a side tool though. It's good for listening skills. However, I was shocked that I already knew more from my traditionalfrench classes than what duolingo was giving me. The app still has a use however

[@vidhimehta9570]

if not duolingo then which resources we should use

[@PimsleurTurkishLessons]

Pimsleur is the best. here is first French Pimsleur lesson kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4WQh4dqjJ6Sf8U

[@brandonjackson6696]

Busuu and pair it with Italki

[@sh-sf8bs]

I already learned French in school but I'm still really bad in this language. I use it to improve my french. My base language is German and we have Speaking and Hearing exercises.