Summary by Dr. Linh Phung
I don't mean to post a lot about Duolingo, but since they have more money to offer research grants and pay participants, there's more research about it. This is a study funded by Duolingo that I just read and here's some interesting information I find and a summary of the findings.
An estimate of the app-based language learning industry globally is $3 billion. A study looking into Babbel found that learners improved by 0.7 of an ACTFL level in speaking after their three-month study with an average of 11.61 hours of study. That's actually impressive improvement.
Similarly, Smith, Jiang & Peters's (2024) study found that after 26.8 hours on Duolingo in a period of three months, participants gained more than one sublevel in overall proficiency, reading, speaking, and writing, with listening skills improving by 0.65 sublevel, advancing from Novice High to Intermediate Low speaking.
In this study, the number of sessions completed predicted better learning outcomes, but not the amount of time spent. This and other studies show that app-based learning seems to be as effective as classroom-learning and requires less time perhaps because it relies on short episodes that occur more regularly (every day). However, so far this is only true at the lower level of proficiency.
This is encouraging for me as a creator/manager of Eduling Speak and Pangea Chat, but I still believe in a large number of hours needed for a high level of proficiency.
SUMMARY
Methods:
Pretest and posttest:
Baseline skills tested with standardized (AVANT) and custom tests: Vocabulary (custom LEXTALE-ESP); Grammar (error identification & correction); Speaking (Elicited Imitation Task or EIT)
Treatment:
Participants used Duolingo for 15 minutes a day over 12 weeks.
Data collected: total sessions, session accuracy rates, time spent, and test scores.
Findings:
Significant improvement in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
Largest gains in speaking and writing.
Big improvements in vocabulary, grammar, and speaking from pretest to posttest.
Key Learning Factors:
Completing more sessions and higher session accuracy were associated with better learning outcomes.
Learning time was not associated with performance.
Positive user experience was associated with gains in EIT speaking and overall proficiency.
Full article: https://www.lltjournal.org/item/10125-73595/
Check out my app Eduling Speak and Pangea Chat in the App Store or Play Store
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