It’s Saturday, and time for our Homeschool Resource: Foreign Languages. I would like to ask you to check out the Recommended Website: Duolingo If you have used this resource leave me a comment and let me know what you think of this and why.
Age Range: 10-Adult (Grades 5-adult; children with parental supervision) This free website for language learning uses fun interactive technology to learn and practice a foreign language.
When arriving at the link, select the language you would like to learn. Available languages include:
- Spanish
- French
- German
- Italian
- Korean
- and so many more!
After selecting your language, you are able to choose to begin with “Basics” or take a short placement test if you are already familiar with the language. Interactive lessons include vocabulary, grammar, and more. Be sure to have your sound on. There are hundreds of lessons broken down to focus on specific language skills. You need to complete certain skills to open new skill/lesson levels.
In order for your lessons to be tracked (and to continue very far into the lessons) you will need to create a free profile. Once you have created your profile you can review words learned, practice with flashcards, check your activity on the program, and more. There is a language discussion board available so parents will want to monitor their students if they do not want them to participate in the board. While working through the lessons, student earn lingots, the Duolingo virtual currency. Lingots can be used in the virtual store for things such as a “Heart Refill” which “allows you to regain one heart lost during a lesson”, “Streak Freeze” which allows your activity “streak to remain in place for one full day of inactivity”, and more program related bonuses.
From the website:
“In a recent independent study, professors from the City University of New York (CUNY) and the University of South Carolina found that when using Duolingo for 34 hours, students learn the equivalent of one university semester of language instruction.”
And this program is also available as a free app so you can take learning on the go. Learning a new language can be fun using this website that appeals to different learning methods.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
