Can you learn Dutch with Duolingo?
Can you learn Dutch with Duolingo?
Wanting to pick up some Dutch? This is a must-read.
Well, it depends.
Learning a language is a huge undertaking. Since Groningen is an international city, it’s safe to say that most residents here speak at least two languages: their native language and English. Learning a third should be easy, right?
Well, the science would say so. The brain adapts, using memorization and referencing techniques when learning a second language based on gained experience. The more languages you learn, the easier it becomes to learn others.
But, how easy it’ll be for you to learn Dutch does depend on your native tongue. Dutch is a West Germanic language, so some nationalities will pick it up a lot faster than others (namely Germans). Languages that are simplest for you to learn typically share similarities in vocabulary, grammar rules, spelling, and pronunciation with the language you already speak.
So, how good is Duolingo?
Well, it’s a free (already a plus) and accessible app offering bite-sized lessons in a game-like format, which makes it easy to stay consistent on your language-learning journey. Not to mention the iconic green mascot, sending threatening notifications to keep your Duolingo streak alive, making quite the impact online and reeling in many users.
We've gathered a few locals of different nationalities who took on learning Dutch using the app. We asked them to summarise their experience in one sentence:
Wiktor (Poland) - “Very repetitive.”
Arian (Iran) - “Impractical and hard to make tangible progress.”
Tanya (Russia) - “Very unsuccessful. I was stuck at A1 for ages as the app doesn’t let you progress at all!”
The consensus… not great. However, the lessons did bring in the very basics, which are enough to help you get by. For more comprehensive learning, one of our interviewees suggested the app Busu, as they said it provides a better structure and overall understanding (not sponsored).
If you want to get fluent, nothing is better than in-person learning.
If you are at university, chances are you can secure a spot to learn Dutch for free in a classroom. If not, there are many options out there for both online and in-person classes which are definitely more effective than Duolingo, and will actually make you practice speaking (which is probably the hardest part of learning a language.)