Foreign Language · K–12 · sweet spot 6
Duolingo
Published by Duolingo, Inc.
How it teaches
Duolingo uses spaced repetition and gamification to build habit-driven language acquisition through short, interactive lessons. It adapts to individual performance but emphasizes engagement and consistency over structured grammar instruction.
Who it's for
Learners of all ages seeking a fun, self-directed introduction to a new language or casual language maintenance. Pairs well with other curricula as a supplement to build speaking and listening skills.
Who it's not for
Students needing rigorous, grammar-focused instruction or comprehensive communication proficiency; Duolingo alone does not meet high-school level foreign language requirements for college prep.
Key features
- Gamified bite-sized lessons (5–10 minutes)
- 30+ languages available
- Adaptive difficulty targeting listening, speaking, reading, writing
- Free tier with ads; Duolingo+ paid option removes ads and unlocks streak freezes
- Cross-platform (iOS, Android, web)
- Real-time leaderboards and progress tracking
At a glance
Format
mobile app, web based
Delivery
self paced
Approach
spiral
Cadence
5 min/session
Screen time
heavy
Materials
reusable
Parent prep
Parent involvement
Estimated cost
Approximate MSRP. Confirm current pricing on the publisher's page before purchasing.
Other foreign language curricula
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