Learn a Language Online… for Free!

Would you or your students like to learn a language online? Duolingo is for you!

Duolingo makes language learning fun. It's also proven to be extremely effective, and is 100 percent free.

The folks at Duolingo believe everyone should have free access to high-quality learning. They are continually researching and testing their techniques to optimize the learning process.

According to an independent study conducted by the City University of New York and the University of South Carolina, an average of 34 hours of Duolingo are equivalent to a full university semester of language education. The study concluded that a person with no knowledge of Spanish would need between 26 and 49 hours (or 34 hours on average) to cover the material for the first college semester of Spanish. Since a one semester university course usually takes more than 34 hours of work, this study suggests that Duolingo is more effective than an average university course. – Duolingo

Learn a language online with Duolingo.

Yes, you read that correctly – this free online tool is MORE effective than an average university course. WOW!

I've used the site myself quite a bit, and I love how user-friendly both the web-based and app versions are. My favorite thing about the site is how many ways it encourages you to learn a language. As you're taking lessons, you translate back and forth between languages in many formats. This type of learning exposes you to many different components of the language — writing, reading, listening, speaking — it's all a part of the learning process with Duolingo.

Many students don't like speaking aloud in class, especially in a foreign language. With Duolingo, students can practice speaking skills in private and be assessed by the computer. Duolingo actually assesses the audio input and encourage learners to try again until they get it right. This extra practice goes a long way in putting students at ease for oral exams, and helps them become more comfortable reading aloud in class.

So check out Duolingo and let me know which language you're going to learn next!

Kimber Thompson is a Lead Moderator for SimpleK12 webinars and a Contributing Editor for SimpleK12.com. She writes frequently about education topics, and is passionate about tools and techniques that inspire young learners. You may reach her with ideas and comments at editor@simplek12.com.