DuoLingo: Cool Language-Learning Mobile App
Standing during long train commutes and bus rides has just gotten more educational. Bilingual-aspiring adults, who are looking to learn Spanish, English, French, German, Portuguese or Italian, will be glad to learn about the free and cool mobile app, DuoLingo. DuoLingo is a mobile Android and IOS game-based app that uses tactically comprehensive features, and additive vocal and manual interactions to educate users. The once sizable application, is just 5MB, a third the size of the old version. The effectiveness of the language learning tool is comparable to a college education.
Thirty-four hours (on average) of DuoLingo equates one university semester (11 weeks). The independently conducted translation-and-language-learning utensil measures language acquisition through constant assessment; which results in the statistical improvement and effectiveness through use of the digital form.
Duolingo employees the Rosetta stone-style quizzes and interfaces, but also devises the translation of English-language articles into Spanish, so that language exercises can be exercised practically. The popular Forbes-approved app has earned 14 million registered users, and happily boasts about "No fees, no ads, no gimmicks. A college-quality education without the pricetag;" which proves to be beneficial for those who have no access to formal education, or potentially expensive language-learning courses.
Luis Von Ahn, Duolingo's founder and CEO, has managed to brighten breaks and commutes by granting access to the productive and gainful application. Students of the application can thank the bilingual Guatemala-born founder for discovering an app that effectively stands to improve socio-economic status for individuals in developing countries, who wish to learn English in order to earn better jobs -without having to travel and spend $250 on a TOEFL certification. And, those in America, who want to learn Spanish or other languages, get an opportunity to tap into a whole new job market.
The genius app poses to be huge. Von Ahn is in talks with carriers about pre-installing the mobile app on smartphones; schools in Guatemala are looking to place the app on in-class desktops within the classroom of teachers with inadequate English-teaching skills; and, Duolingo stands to make billions, as it's been contracted to do the translation for CNN and Buzzfeed, charging them 5-to-20 cent per word, translations generally landing between the 15-to-20 cent range. Perhaps what is more genius is that the developers use its millions of users to translate the articles for free, while Duolingo earns money.
Duolingo has been named one of GIZMODO's favorite app, and receiving a great deal of international buzz.