Can you learn a language using only DuoLingo? Will DuoLingo help with preparation for GCSE? What level can I achieve using DuoLingo? 

I am an avid user of DuoLingo. I have completed the French, German, Spanish, Italian and Mandarin courses. I am currently working my way through the Japanese course and have dabbled in several other languages, including Portuguese, Dutch and even Catalan (via Spanish). The answer to all of the questions above is…’maybe’. Not all language courses on DuoLingo are equal – some offer more levels than others. DuoLingo isn’t for everyone, for example it doesn’t really offer explanations which can be frustrating for those less familiar with mastering grammar in a new language. It is also highly repetitive which is good for embedding vocabulary, but can get boring. That said, you can take a test and skip up a level if you’re ready to move on.

My tips:

1. GCSE students of French/German/Spanish: it is a useful tool to embed vocabulary due to extensive repetition and the French, German, Spanish and Italian courses are all sufficiently advanced for GCSE level. BUT it can lead students into a false sense of security as answers are multiple choice and it doesn’t provide opportunities to practise conversation and extended writing. It should be used to supplement other more pro-active forms of revision.

2. A Level students of French/German/Spanish: DuoLingo can still help with revision, but time is probably better spent on other resources, eg reading and listening to authentic target language.

3. Italian: I’m sitting my GCSE Italian in the summer 2025 and knowing French and Spanish already, I feel that completing the DuoLingo course has been great preparation. I’m now using other resources to make sure I’m familiar with the vocabulary required for the exam.

4. Mandarin: I finished this course and went on to sit HSK 1 and get 100%. This is the entry-level official test of Mandarin and is the equivalent of the EU-defined A1 level. Mandarin on DuoLingo is a great starting point but doesn’t take you anywhere near GCSE level.

5. Japanese: I’m on level two and really enjoying the course. I’ve more or less mastered two writing systems (Hirigana and Katakana) and via the settings I’ve now switched off the Romaji (Latin, ie our script / alphabet). I’ve also learned a few Kanji (picture characters used in written Japanese). It feels like it’s going to offer a lot more than the Mandarin course and I’m looking forward to seeing where I am by the end of the course.