<![CDATA[Latest posts for the thread "Anyone else using Duolingo?"]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/54.page JForum - http://www.jforum.net Anyone else using Duolingo?
Started on Duolingo to learn Japanese, so I can be more interactive on my next holiday there. Dunno if I’ve a knack for languages, but I’m finding it very enjoyable.

Anyone else using Duolingo? Or other language education sites?]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820108.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820108.page GMT Re:Anyone else using Duolingo?
I feel like the app is more helpful if you already have some background in the language you're seeking to learn (minor in German from university here.) Learning Russian from the ground up through the app has proven harder.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820121.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820121.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo? http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820127.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820127.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo?
Even did his first trip over to Japan on his own. So that’s exciting! ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820137.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820137.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo?
Only started because they had Klingon available. Added polish a couple of months ago, because, well, there are far more situations where I could use polish than Klingon. ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820140.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820140.page GMT Re:Anyone else using Duolingo? I myself am learning polish (very slowly) because my mother in law is from Poland, I really like the sound of the language and we go there on vacation now and then. So far my reading comprehension is definitly better than my pronounciation. But I'll get there sometime.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820142.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820142.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo?
Though, have found it sometimes isn’t hearing me right.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820145.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820145.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo? AI usage?]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820167.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820167.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo? http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820171.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820171.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo?
 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Main thing I’m struggling with is sentence structure. But just about to hit my 7 day streak, so plenty time to learn.

Though, have found it sometimes isn’t hearing me right.


I've been using it for Japanese for about 3 years. Definitely a challenging sentence structure to pick up and as you get into writing you'll find further challenges. Duo is pretty good at keeping you invested in small bites, but it's probably slower going than something that pushes more repetition. It can kind of breeze over things whether you get them or not. I've been curious if I'd get better results out of Rosetta or something similar but Duo works well enough for a free product for me.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820204.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820204.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo?
Only been at it a week. I will get there. I will be conversational.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820210.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820210.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo? So, it works okay for klingon because of its pretty light grammar, but with polish and its different casus I end up guessing most of the time. If I bought some book to use alongside duolingo(well I did for klingon) I'm sure it'd be much more efficient. ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820212.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820212.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo?
Sgt. Cortez wrote:
Duolingo is really weak for learning complex grammar, as you never really see a complete declination or rules, it's all just trial and error with random sentences.
So, it works okay for klingon because of its pretty light grammar, but with polish and its different casus I end up guessing most of the time. If I bought some book to use alongside duolingo I'm pretty sure it'd be much more efficient.

I think this is particularly problematic for someone who's first language is English, which is grammatically relatively simple and permissive for a variety of historical reasons. Gender outside of sexually-dimorphic creatures is essentially non-existent, for example, unlike most Indo-European languages.

]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820213.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820213.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo?

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The Japanese stuff is coming to me though. And to be honest? I kind of like that Duolingo specifically sometimes doesn’t quite explain things, means I need to figure out for myself.

Though apparently it’s constantly adjusting its difficulty based on results, so maybe it’s just providing The Right Sort Of Challenge For Me.

Still nice to be returning to education, after a fashion, for the first time in 30 years and doing well.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820217.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820217.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo?
 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
I always struggled with masculine/feminine in French. Years later I learned “stuff just is”. That there is no rule.


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The Japanese stuff is coming to me though. And to be honest? I kind of like that Duolingo specifically sometimes doesn’t quite explain things, means I need to figure out for myself.

Though apparently it’s constantly adjusting its difficulty based on results, so maybe it’s just providing The Right Sort Of Challenge For Me.

Still nice to be returning to education, after a fashion, for the first time in 30 years and doing well.


As much as people complain about the quirks of english, the number one thing I learn from other languages is that they are all full of similar things.

That said, with Japanese in particular I do have to forever remember that October is the 10th month and is rationally named as such in Japanese. ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820219.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820219.page GMT Re:Anyone else using Duolingo? http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820235.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820235.page GMT Re:Anyone else using Duolingo?
 Pyroalchi wrote:
My feeling with polish is that through all the repititions you slowly develop a "gut feeling" for the declination. I won't claim I get it right most of the time, but more and more I intuitively "guess right"


Then you probably have much more practice or talent than I do.

As a side note: Through Duolingo I got the impression that the difference between "this" and "that" is rated pretty important in english, as they force it on me in one of the earliest lessons in either klingon or polish.
You know, in German noone cares about the difference between the two and I'm pretty sure most of my students don't even know the word "jener/jene" (that) even exists or what it's used for...]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820245.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820245.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo?
I will say that learning Japanese has made me hyper aware whenever a dub uses "that over there" though.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820246.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820246.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo?
Away from my notebook, so that’s from memory following one week of learning.

]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820250.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820250.page GMT Re:Anyone else using Duolingo? http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820256.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820256.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo?

I think I probably will pick up a “proper” course further down the line. Duolingo isn’t the best for understanding Why That Grammar. But so far it’s doing a fine job making me aware of what I don’t know, which I find helps me focus better. Which means further investment is likely to see a proper educational return.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820257.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820257.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo? You know, not just writing a german sentence with english words. I speak english so well that makes me nobody so quickly after...]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820266.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820266.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo? http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820311.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820311.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo?
 Haighus wrote:
Did Duolingo U-turn on their AI usage?


AFAIK no. It's why I decided to abstain from it, they replaced their actual translators with LLMs. It fell right into the boycott box with a number of other companies like Amazon. Which is a shame, because learning more languages is good.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820366.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820366.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo? http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820703.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820703.page GMT Re:Anyone else using Duolingo?
I stumbled on this video some time ago but it was useful for going over how different apps are good for growing in language proficiency over time. Duolingo is mentioned is a good starting app but not one you would stay with until fluency.


]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820726.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820726.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo? http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820741.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820741.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo?
The basics have been made easy, but if as others have found for different languages the Duolingo Japanese course doesn’t really get you to conversational? I can use it for practice and keeping the basic skills sharp, and a different course to advance me yet further.

I’ll see how I’m doing at the three month mark. If I’m still digging it and progressing, may even consider going for a professional qualification.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820804.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820804.page GMT Re:Anyone else using Duolingo? ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820873.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820873.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo? http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820885.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820885.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo? http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820891.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820891.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo? http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820898.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11820898.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo? http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11821385.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11821385.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo?
I can tell you the sound they represent, but couldn’t tell you what the word is.

But hey, not bad for a fortnight of learning from zero knowledge!]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11821514.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11821514.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo?
 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Watching the latest episode of Fist of the North Star. And in the opening credits, I’m able to recognise some of the Hiragana.

I can tell you the sound they represent, but couldn’t tell you what the word is.

But hey, not bad for a fortnight of learning from zero knowledge!


That's certainly better than me watching Star Trek III after 500 days of Klingon and hardly understanding a single klingon word, you know, quite the only situation Klingon could actually be used for.

(I think by now it's a bit better, knowing "So'wI' yIchu'!" (Activate the claoking device!) is quite practical for most of the movie klingon dialogues...)]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11821647.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11821647.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo?
I’m finding the short nature of each lesson a boon. If I’m pondering something at work? I can jump on Duolingo for a lesson or two, whilst the back burner of my brain works on the professional stuff.

Really wish I’d done this years ago now.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11821649.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11821649.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo?
One of my biggest complaints of her doing German is how they default to the "du" not the "sie". I took two semesters of german in college, and it's making my pull my hair out because I'm all "you are literally introducing yourself to this person, they dont know you! WHY are you Du-tsing them??????!?!?!?"


I have had my eye out for a better, non-AI using language app, so I'll have to watch that YT video someone posted above when I get the chance.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11821665.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11821665.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo?
It is of course on me to double check it. But man it can get right on my pip when I need to type “Ha” to get right “Wa”. Same with San, which is either the honorific, or the number 3.

But it is effective in teaching me where the differences lie.


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Also, I think I want a new notebook. Bought one especially, but my notes are kind of all over the shop, so it can be tricky for me to find the right word or phrase.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11821693.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11821693.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo? I took some Japanese classes years ago, so I have a basic grasp of grammar and sentence structure, which helps a lot with understanding the example sentences and picking up on new patterns. And I find it quite fun to learn the kanji spelling of words I already know or recognise from anime.
 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
It is of course on me to double check it. But man it can get right on my pip when I need to type “Ha” to get right “Wa”.
Don't know how the keyboard in Duolingo works, my main issue in Wanikani is having to double type n to get the hiragana/katakana "N", because otherwise it'll append the n to the next hiragana and turn it into "Nya" or something.
 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Same with San, which is either the honorific, or the number 3.
Counting in Japanese is a big old mess once you get into it, something for you to look forward to
My favourite is that the Japanese kanji for book (hon) is also used to count things, but only long, cilindrical objects (pencils, etc). If you want to count books, you have to use another kanji, very intuitive.

]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11821748.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11821748.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo?
So, for my age of 46? It would be…erm… Yonjuuroku.

Or “four tens and six”.

I’m also wondering if having a scottishish accent, I’ve a bit of a leg up on pronounciation. Lots of guttural sounds.

No that’s a deliberate second ish. Lived in England for…erm…36 years (sanjuuroku!) it’s genuinely scottishish.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11821758.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11821758.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo?
 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Startin to learn some bigger numbers. Hyaku, Sen specifically. And if memory serves from something mentioned much earlier in the course? It’s not that far from French.
After that they move to hundred thousand (Man) and hundred million (Oku), which requires a lot of menthal arithmetics on my part.
I was specifically talking about counting words though. We just put the numbers before a noun (two books), but Japanese doesn't do that. There it depends on whether an object is alive, its shape/size, whether it has wings, is human,... Quite annoying to learn. In basic conversation hitotsu, futatsu, mittsu,... luckily suffice most of the time.
 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
I’m also wondering if having a scottishish accent, I’ve a bit of a leg up on pronounciation. Lots of guttural sounds.
I found that most Japanese pronunciation comes quite easy thanks to knowing both Dutch and French. Except for the correct pronunciation of the fu (more whistly I believe) and g- sounds (slightly nasal). But I'll never pass for a native anyway, so close enough is good enough.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11821762.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11821762.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo?
One, as a number, is Ichi.

But, One as a quantity of an item? Is Hitotsu.

Kinda following on from my passing familiarity with French and its gender words? I try not to worry about “how and why”, and am instead going with “it just is, so you’ll have to learn it”

On Fu? I find it easiest to pronounce by pretending I’m about to say the F Word, but only get about half way through saying the F before deciding not to bother. More a breath than a syllable.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11821767.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11821767.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo?
 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
On Fu? I find it easiest to pronounce by pretending I’m about to say the F Word, but only get about half way through saying the F before deciding not to bother. More a breath than a syllable.
Sounds like a good trick, just remember to actually stop halfway when you're in Japan ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11822019.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11822019.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo?
Not too bad when the “say it slower” button is there, as that usually helps. But when it’s just “here’s some high pitched syllables spoken really quickly” I struggle.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11822153.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11822153.page GMT Anyone else using Duolingo? http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11822685.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/818898/11822685.page GMT