Learning languages with Duolingo

Maw I didn’t know about the Zeug thing! That’s brilliant

(My knowledge of languages is extremely poor)

TerriBull

Another Duolingo fan here, I'm pretty sure someone mentioned it on GN a while back which is how I discovered the site. Thanks to whoever that was it has been a great addition to my day. I do French, it's part of my early morning routine, a few exercises with that first coffee now for quite a while. Shame it wasn't around when I was at school, I might have actually enjoyed French. My husband does Spanish but he's more of an occasional user of the site than me.

What does everyone do with their accrued lingots ?

**

What is a lingot? I am on my 554th day and have occasionally seen the word but have no idea what it is or how to see if I have any. As I said above, it took me weeks and even months to figure out hearts, gems, XP, and that there is a "league table". Then I noticed that I also have "crowns" - still puzzling over them . A further points system seems unnecessary.

Oh Ailidh how apt!

JackyB I think lingots are laptop/PC speak for the gems we get in the app. Hadn’t realised till this thread how the terms differ (thanks, posters).

I’ve been thoroughly sucked in by DuoLingo - DH has noted how competitive I am, obsessed even. Forgotten all about the learning, it’s the winning that counts! ????

Won’t pay a penny but have learned to turn the sound down so DH doesn’t know I’m doing another timed challenge to gain XP… cackle….

I am using a computer and I have been awarded some lingots.

So I went to the shop.

It appears that I can get a one day Streak Freeze, but I am not sure how as it says 2/2 EQUIPPED and a button which is "white-ed out" and there is also the opportunity to bet five lingots to keep a seven day streak, with a prize of another five lingots if I win.

I am wondering if as I accumulate lingots whether other offers will become available.

Hello Cs783, how does one get to do a timed challenge please?

A week or two ago I tried a placement on the Italian course. I had been to classes many years ago. I got credited with eleven complete circles at the basic learning level.

Is it possible to get them uncredited so that I can wirk through the learning?

This has arisen in the following thread.

LINK > www.gransnet.com/forums/culture_arts/1313847-A-discussion-of-the-possibility-of-an-enhanced-virtual-cruise

* StarDreamer* I’m using the app, where I have a row of symbols along the bottom. Above the shield, which opens leagues, there is often the lightning flash which gives access to timed challenges. I’ll try to provide a photo. I’m not sure if the shield was there from the start.

Thank you, Sc783.

Thank you, Cs783.

StarDreamer

I am using a computer and I have been awarded some lingots.

So I went to the shop.

It appears that I can get a one day Streak Freeze, but I am not sure how as it says 2/2 EQUIPPED and a button which is "white-ed out" and there is also the opportunity to bet five lingots to keep a seven day streak, with a prize of another five lingots if I win.

I am wondering if as I accumulate lingots whether other offers will become available.

Hello Cs783, how does one get to do a timed challenge please?

It seems that you don't need to purchase a streak freeze at the moment. Sounds like you already have the maximum (2) enabled, meaning that if you didn't do any practice on Duo today (or some day in the future), one of those would automatically be used to prevent your run of consequential days from going back at zero.

The button that is, as you put it, whited out, will be usable again once you have used one of those two streak freezes.

Regarding the lingots, I don't think any other lingot-based offers will become available as you accumulate more, but I could be wrong.

Thank you, Oldnproud.

StarDreamer

A week or two ago I tried a placement on the Italian course. I had been to classes many years ago. I got credited with eleven complete circles at the basic learning level.

Is it possible to get them uncredited so that I can wirk through the learning?

This has arisen in the following thread.

LINK > www.gransnet.com/forums/culture_arts/1313847-A-discussion-of-the-possibility-of-an-enhanced-virtual-cruise

Again things may be different when using the app (as I am) but I find I can work through a ‘checkpoint’ at the end of a stage - keep scrolling down until you see one - to gain access as far as I can tell to all the previously-greyed-out material in that stage. Hope that helps.

Thank you, Cs783.

Someone way back said: "I just wish the whole procedure of using DuoLingo could have been explained clearly somewhere." and that's just how I feel. Please could the OP or someone else explain it clearly?

Also: for brushers up / refreshers is there an intermediate type level, or do we have to trudge through the early stages first?

Yes, that would be good.

Ah ... the OP is me!

Well, I have only been using Duolingo for 3 weeks, though every day.

So I will try to answer your questions as best I can.

However, while I am writing something, hopefully some other people will reply too.

winterwhite agree with you about wanting a proper explanation of how duolingo works. An internet search brings up bits and bobs but much seems out of date.

As for choosing your starting level, I think the ‘checkpoints’ are your friend.

Has anyone actually asked this of DL?
Surely it would be in their interests to offer a decent online manual? Simple, straightforward and concise.
It would undoubtedly assist people to make up their minds as to whether it is for them?
(Me, for one. I would never sign up to anything without investigating first whether it suited).

winterwhite

Someone way back said: "I just wish the whole procedure of using DuoLingo could have been explained clearly somewhere." and that's just how I feel. Please could the OP or someone else explain it clearly?

Also: for brushers up / refreshers is there an intermediate type level, or do we have to trudge through the early stages first?

When one starts a course for a particular language, one is asked if one wants to go from Basics or from a Placement.

If one has learned some of the language before and requests a placement, then one will be given a test, which is in the same style as if one were starting from zero, except that the questions gradually increase in difficulty until one starts getting the wrong answer. The questions asked depend on whether one gets correct answers or not. After a while the test stops and a result is presented, which credits one with not needing to work through the earlier stages.

There are sets of classes, each set of which I refer to as "a circle" and the way it works seems to be that each circle has several levels, each level having several lessons.

It varies, but typically five or so levels and about four or five lessons in each level.

Each circle consists of several levels.

For each circle, the lowest level is the teaching level where one learns. The other levels in that circle are testing that learning, possibly at increasing levels of difficulty.

However, one does not need to complete every level of a circle before being allowed to move to the next circle. One needs to complete just the lowest level of a circle to be allowed to move to the next circle.

A placement gives one credit as if one has completed the lowest level of each circle up to where one is placed.

One need not work through any of the levels above the lowest level for any circle, however one can.

As the idea is to try to do some Duolingo each day, I often start by going back and first doing the next lesson from one of the earlier circles.

So, for example, I am learning Welsh and I have thus far completed eight circles at the lowest level, and the levels I have completed for each of those eight circles is 4, 4, 2, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1 and or some part way through the next level.

Some time ago, as I went to Italian evening classes in the 1970s, I tried a placement for Italian and got some credit.

However, I regretted that as I could not then access the learning level of the credited circles.

However, today I found Manage courses, so I was able to remove Italian from my profile, then add it again and get a new copy so I can go through the learning material of the course.

I have only been Duolingo for three weeks thus far, so I am not an expert on Duolingo. Yet I hope that what I have written helps.

today I found Manage courses,

I didn't know about that. Handy to hear.

FarNorth

^today I found Manage courses,^

I didn't know about that. Handy to hear.

Yes. I had got a forward placement for French, but I think that I would rather go back to the beginning just in case there is something that I have not remembered from the 1960s or in case there is a word of vocabulary that is used that I never met or never remembered.

For learning Welsh I have an A5 size notebook from Tesco, delivered with my grocery order, a white one, there is a mix of colours but I requested a white one in the picker note. I write notes using a blue ballpoint pen as I proceed. It means I take longer to go through a lesson but I think it helps me to learn.

SD I'm in a facebook group of duolingo Gaelic learners.
Some of them are very rigorous about revising lessons and writing everything down. Others, like me, are more casual but still making a bit of progress.

I am wondering if as I accumulate lingots whether other offers will become available.

No, nothing else seems to become available on the website (I don't use the app), but you can use 10 lingots at a time to do a lesson at Legendary level once you've done the first 5 levels of any topic.

Thank you, Wheniwasyourage.

Thank you, FarNorth.

AIBU to feel infantilised by this communication from Duolingo?
I gave it a go out of curiosity but was quickly frustrated and bored by the repetition of io una donna etc - which was all too much like those Latin lessons aged 11 about puellae. going to the silva which struck me as supremely irrelevant (although I came to enjoy Latin eventually, largely I think because of Caesar’s Gallic Wars)
As for suggesting “university standard Italian” -well I seriously doubt that having studied languages at university and io una donna was not what we were studying!
Good on him for the sourdough though. ??

Yes Maw but it is all very US/sales/games based isn’t it? So the ad is all part and parcel of that approach…

that said, I’m enjoying the way repetition and practice really work for me as a cheapskate leisure learner. I have French thanks to school, UK uni, living in France but I think duolingo+other free resources (including knowing another Romance language) can shortcut a lot of that.

Glad Duo has other interests though.