The use of tracking meters, popularized by apps such as Duolingo and Snapchat to reward their most dedicated users, has become widespread. However, addiction specialists and psychologists have raised concerns.
Same. In fact, streaks tend to anger me because it feels like manipulation to me, which disincentivizes me from doing anything streak-related. I’m not rushing out to the supermarket just bc my points are about to expire, and I’m sure af not paying a subscription kits so they don’t expire.
I will say, with Duolingo I do appreciate the manipulation to keep me going. I probably wouldn’t have spent near as much time on another language if it weren’t for keeping that streak going. I can definitely understand the harm in it being used for maligne purposes. With any tool, it’s who wields it and for what intent.
As I always say about duolingo, if you have not completed the course in 3 months you won’t learn a language with it. Duolingo is a good introduction when you don’t know anything about a language, but you need a lot of advanced materials they they don’t really have to become fluent.
Though if your goal is just to play a game and feel like you are learning something - well at least you get some vocabulary. It won’t teach you a language but that need not be your goal.
I disagree. Let people learn in their pace and do not set unrealistic targets. It’s not really possible to complete e.g. the french course in 3 months if you have other stuff to do like work or family. Took me longer, but now I’m able to be in France, read what is written on the signs and also able to communicate with the locals.
I don’t know what language you were learning, but I think it’s impossible to finish Spanish. True, I usually go one lesson per day, but after nearly 3000 days I’m at 6/8 section. I finished once the tree out a lot of effort in, they reworked the whole thing and I got back to the middle
if your pace is that slow you will never make enough progress to learning the language. It takes hours of study every day to learn a language. You can go at a slower pace and that is okay - so long as you are not thinking you will learn the language in your lifetime.
As a single tool, no, not a chance in hell of becoming fluent. It’s definitely a good aide and introduction to branch out into more media and sources of another language though.
Same. In fact, streaks tend to anger me because it feels like manipulation to me, which disincentivizes me from doing anything streak-related. I’m not rushing out to the supermarket just bc my points are about to expire, and I’m sure af not paying a subscription kits so they don’t expire.
I will say, with Duolingo I do appreciate the manipulation to keep me going. I probably wouldn’t have spent near as much time on another language if it weren’t for keeping that streak going. I can definitely understand the harm in it being used for maligne purposes. With any tool, it’s who wields it and for what intent.
As I always say about duolingo, if you have not completed the course in 3 months you won’t learn a language with it. Duolingo is a good introduction when you don’t know anything about a language, but you need a lot of advanced materials they they don’t really have to become fluent.
Though if your goal is just to play a game and feel like you are learning something - well at least you get some vocabulary. It won’t teach you a language but that need not be your goal.
I disagree. Let people learn in their pace and do not set unrealistic targets. It’s not really possible to complete e.g. the french course in 3 months if you have other stuff to do like work or family. Took me longer, but now I’m able to be in France, read what is written on the signs and also able to communicate with the locals.
Sure after a fashion you can work out some basics. don’t confuse that with knowing the language.
I don’t know what language you were learning, but I think it’s impossible to finish Spanish. True, I usually go one lesson per day, but after nearly 3000 days I’m at 6/8 section. I finished once the tree out a lot of effort in, they reworked the whole thing and I got back to the middle
if your pace is that slow you will never make enough progress to learning the language. It takes hours of study every day to learn a language. You can go at a slower pace and that is okay - so long as you are not thinking you will learn the language in your lifetime.
As a single tool, no, not a chance in hell of becoming fluent. It’s definitely a good aide and introduction to branch out into more media and sources of another language though.
I feel shame when I go to reddit because I hate seeing “Yaaaay!!! 10 day streak!!! You are addicted woooohooooo!!!”